Peseiro to prune 41-man squad before UAE camp opens Jan. 2

Jose Peseiro

Most of the players in the Super Eagles’ 41-man provisional list recently released by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) ahead of the 2024 African Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire, will not train together before the final squad of 27 is decided and sent to the Confederation of African Football (CAF) on January 3.

Peseiro submitted a provisional list of 41 players to CAF as required by the African football governing body last week and many thought that the Portuguese would pick the best from the lot after their training camp in Abu Dhabi UAE, which will last from January 2nd to 9th.

But an official of the federation said it would not be possible for the team to come together before the final list is released to CAF, adding that the coach already knows the people he wants to use in Cote d’Ivoire.

The top management source, who pleaded anonymity, said the players, “especially the England-based stars, will arrive in camp on January 2. Members of the team based in Nigeria will leave for the camp on the same day to meet with the others.

“The team will play two friendly games while in Abu Dhabi and return to Nigeria on January 9. The whole delegation will then move to Cote d’Ivoire from Lagos on January 10,” he said.

The source said that CAF required each country in the 2024 African Cup of Nations to submit a list of not more than 55 players before December 14 from which they would select their final 27-man squad. He added that in case of injury, the teams are expected to select substitutes to the injured players from the provisional list.

He revealed that Peseiro has already notified the chosen players of the need to arrive in camp early as the Super Eagles have just a few days to prepare for their opening game on