In the lead-up to the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, Super Eagles head coach Jose Peseiro expressed confidence in the team’s strength, despite the absence of some key players due to injuries.
Among the notable absentees is Leicester City midfielder Wilfred Ndidi, who was replaced by Royal Antwerp’s Alhassan Yusuf, and the exclusion of Victor Boniface and Umar Sadiq, replaced by Terem Moffi and Paul Onuachu respectively.
Peseiro, speaking at a press conference in Abidjan, emphasized that while it’s unfortunate to lose players of such caliber, the team is well-equipped with quality replacements. He stated, “It’s not much of a problem for us because we have picked players with the same profile. Onuachu is similar to Sadiq, Moffi and Boniface are not different, same thing with Ndidi and Alhassan. These players have different characters, but in terms of profiles, they are not different.”
The coach’s optimism and belief in the squad’s depth and versatility bode well for Nigeria’s aspirations in the tournament despite the setbacks. With the tournament approaching, the Super Eagles remain determined to make a mark in Cote d’Ivoire.
