Osimhen in, Ejuke out of Super Eagles 40-man provisional squad for AFCON 2023

• In preparation for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, the Nigerian Football Federation has submitted a provisional 40-man roster to the Confederation of Africa Football, CAF.
• Super Eagles head coach Jose Peseiro plans to open camp with six goalkeepers, thirteen defenders, eight midfielders, and thirteen forwards.

The list of 40 players is expected to be pruned down to 27, and the final roster will be handed to CAF on or before January 3rd, ten days before the kickoff of Africa's biggest football fiesta.

Peseiro has recalled veterans, Ahmed Musa and William Troost-Ekong, who missed Nigeria's last international engagements in October and November.

Udinese goalkeeper, Maduka Okoye, Antwerp playmaker, Chidera Ejuke, and Glasgow Rangers defender, Leon Balogun, who lifted the Scottish League Cup at the weekend, all miss out. Also out of the roster is Nottingham Forest striker, Taiwo Awoniyi, who is currently sidelined due to an injury.

However, three goalkeepers from the Nigeria Professional Football League - Enyimba's Ojo Olorunleke, Bendel Insurance's Amas Obasogie, and Christian Nwoke of Sporting Lagos - are included in the squad.

Super Eagles regulars, Calvin Bassey, Kelechi Iheanacho, Wilfred Ndidi, Joe Aribo, Alex Iwobi, Victor Osimhen, Moses Simon, and Samuel Chukwueze are almost certain to be in the final shortlist, barring any injury in the training camp.

Nigeria will begin their hunt for a fourth AFCON title with a clash against Equatorial Guinea at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium, Abidjan, on January 14 and follow it up four days later with a face-off against hosts, Ivory Coast.

The Super Eagles will round off their group stage campaign with a match against Guinea Bissau at the iconic Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium, Abidjan on January 22.

Nigeria's 40-man provisional AFCON squad

Goalkeepers: Francis Uzoho (Omonia Nicosia, Cyprus), Adebayo Adeleye (Hapoel Jerusalem, Isreal), Ojo Olorunleke (Enyimba, Nigeria), Stanley Nwabali (Chippa United, South Africa), Amas Obasogie (Bendel Insurance, Nigeria), Christian Nwoke (Sporting Lagos, Nigeria)

Defenders: Ola Aina (Nottingham Forest, England), Bright Osayi-Samuel (Fenerbahce, Turkey), Tyronne Ebuehi (Empoli, Italy), Jamilu Collins (Cardiff City, England), Zaidu Sanusi (Porto, Portugal), Bruno Onyemaechi (Boavista, Portugal), William Troost-Ekong (PAOK, Greece), Semi Ajayi (West Brom, England), Calvin Bassey (Fulham, England), Kenneth Omeruo (Kasimpasa, Turkey), Kevin Akpoguma (TSG Hoffenheim, Germany), Chidozie Awaziem (Boavista, Portugal), Jordan Torunarigha (Gent, Belgium)

Midfielders: Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England), Frank Onyeka (Brentford, England), Joe Aribo (Southampton, England), Alex Iwobi (Fulham, England), Alhassan Yusuf (Antwerp, Belgium), Fisayo Dele-Bashiru (Hatayspor, Turkey), Raphael Onyedika Nwadike (Club Brugge, Belgium), Kelechi Nwakali (Chaves, Portugal)

Attackers: Victor Osimhen (Napoli, Italy), Victor Boniface (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany), Terem Moffi (OGC Nice, France), Umar Sadiq (Real Sociedad, Spain), Ahmed Musa (Sivasspor, Turkey), Paul Onuachu (Trabzonspor, Turkey), Cyriel Dessers (Rangers, Scotland), Ademola Lookman (Atalanta, Italy), Nathan Tella (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany), Moses Simon (Nantes, France), Emmanuel Dennis (İstanbul Başakşehir, Turkey), Samuel Chukwueze (AC Milan, Italy), Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City, England)