The senior national team of Nigeria will regroup next month for the qualifiers for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, where they will take on Guinea Bissau in back to back to games in Abuja and Morocco respectively.
OGN takes a look at five Nigerian players who are presently doing well in the English Championship and should be in the head of coach Jose Peseiro ahead of the game. The first encounter between both countries will be on the 24th of Marchin Abuja.
Nathan Tella – He is presently one of the stars of the Burnley team that has taken the English Championship by storm this season. The 23 year old has played 28 games this season and presently boast of two assists and 12 goals for the runaway leaders. It includes a hattrick against Preston North End over the weekend.
Chuba Akpom – He is presently the top scorer in the English Championship and what makes his case more interesting is that he isn’t playing as the main striker for his team. 27 year old Akpom like Tella has already gotten the all clear to play for Nigeria and his 17 goals puts him in the frame for his first call up.
Aji Alese – Real name Ajibola Joshua Odunayo Afolarin Alese, he has been a revelation at Sunderland this season. Comfortable as a left back of the left sided centre backs in a back three he hasn’t looked back since his breakthrough. The 22 year old is eligible for Nigeria and England and with 16 games under his belt this season. Nigeria will do well by having a look at him.
Matthew Sorinola – Two goals, two assists from 23 games as a full back tells a lot about the ability of the 21 year old Sorinola. He is on loan to Swansea City from Belgium side Union SG. He won’t be needing any clearance from FIFA considering that he hasn’t been capped by England at any level.
Tim Iroegbunam- At 19 it’s rare to see a player who is having his first taste of senior football having the kind of season Tim is having at QPR, where he is on loan from Aston Villa. He has played a total of 25 games in all competitions this season with 23 coming in the league. He should be in the minds of Peseiro who is keen on growing his pool of options in the midfield.
Mohammed Mowiz
