Orban and Balogun missing as Peseiro unveils Super Eagles 50-man provisional list ahead of AFCON 2023

Head coach Jose Peseiro has recently announced a 50-man provisional squad, sparking discussions among fans and analysts about the team's composition, strategic choices, and notable inclusions and omissions. 

The list includes a blend of experienced players and new faces as the Super Eagles look forward to preparing for the AFCON in January.

Among the goalkeepers, Stanley Nwabili of Chippa United, Francis Uzoho, Adewale Adeleye (based in Israel), and Enyimba’s Ojo Olorunleke have been selected. 

Notable returns to the squad include Ahmed Musa and Paul Onuachu. However, some surprising omissions are former first-choice goalkeeper Maduka Okoye, Glasgow Rangers defender Leon Balogun, and forward Cyriel Dessers​​.

The final 27-player squad will be announced by Coach Peseiro on January 3, 2024, just ten days before Nigeria's opening match against Equatorial Guinea at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium in Ebimpe, Abidjan. 

The team is expected to begin camping for the tournament later this month​​.

Gift Orban’s absence from the provisional squad has been a topic of debate. The Togo Football Federation has challenged his involvement with the Nigerian national team, raising questions about his nationality. 

Despite holding a Nigerian passport and acknowledging his father’s roots in Benue State, Nigeria, his mother hails from Togo. 

This dispute led the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) to refrain from inviting Orban to the national team, to avoid potential conflicts with FIFA regulations. 

This development could significantly impact Orban’s international career, potentially excluding him from Nigeria's participation in the Africa Cup of Nations​​.