Confirmed Super Eagles team news: Peseiro provides fitness update on Yusuf, Iheanacho, Onuachu, Moffi

Addressing the media on Wednesday morning ahead of his side’s blockbuster 2023 Africa Cup of Nations match against hosts Ivory Coast, manager Jose Peseiro provided fitness updates on four of his players namely Alhassan Yusuf, Kelechi Iheanacho, Terem Moffi and Paul Onuachu.

The Portuguese football tactician confirmed that Yusuf’s injury is not as bad as first feared but the game against the Elepehants has come too soon for the Royal Antwerp midfielder 

Yusuf suffered an injury in the second half of Nigeria’s 1-1 draw with Equatorial Guinea in their Africa Cup of Nations opener and initially attempted to play through the pain barrier before he was stretchered off the pitch. 

“Yusuf is out of the match tomorrow. We received good news yesterday it was not a serious injury but for this match he’s not ready, for next match can be,” Peseiro stated.

Peseiro confirmed that Iheanacho, Moffi and Onuachu will be available for Thursday’s game against the Elephants. 

The Leicester City striker joined the team late in order to recover from an injury he suffered at his club, while Moffi and Onuachu were added to the roster to compensate for the absences of Victor Boniface and Sadiq Umar who were forced to withdraw from the squad after picking up injuries in camp.  

On how ready Moffi and Iheanacho are for tomorrow’s game, Peseiro replied: “Kelechi Iheanacho arrived in the morning of the game (versus Equatorial Guinea). Moffi and Onuachu are playing in their clubs, no problem, only trained with us.

“Moffi knows more about our organization, about our dynamics, our moments in the game than Onuachu.

“Kelechi showed good conditions when he arrived. He stopped, two days before he didn’t work with the team in collective training, only individual training, but to my surprise has shown good capacity, good coordination, showed capacity to play.

“We need more time, we have more training and I hope he doesn’t suffer a relapse but he’s okay and feels well, it’s good for us.”

Onuachu entered the game as a substitute in the closing minutes of the draw against Equatorial Guinea as the Super Eagles searched for an unlikely winner. 

Ifeanyi Emmanuel 

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