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Super Eagles manager Jose Peseiro has announced his starting lineup for the 2026 World Cup qualifying match against Lesotho at the\u00a0Godswill Akpabio International Stadium.<\/p>\n
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Allnigeriasoccer.com<\/strong>‘s editorial staff \u00a0brings you eight things to note on the starting lineup to face the Crocodiles.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n 1)\u00a0The average age of today’s starting lineup is 25.91 years, with Semi Ajayi the oldest at 30 years and Victor Boniface the youngest at 22 years.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n 2)\u00a0Jose Peseiro has made eight changes from the side that beat Mozamique 3-2, bringing in Semi Ajayi, Calvin Bassey, Jamilu Collins, Alex Iwobi, Ademola Lookman, Kelechi Iheanacho, Victor Boniface and Taiwo Awoniyi.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n 3) Five players in the starting lineup are 25 and younger: Francis Uzoho, Bright Osayi-Samuel and Frank Onyeka (25); Calvin Bassey (23) and Victor Boniface (22).<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n 4) Francis Uzoho and Kelechi Iheanacho are the two survivors of the starting lineup that narrowly lost to Argentina in Nigeria’s last game at the World Cup back in 2018.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n 5) Iheanacho captains the Super Eagles today in the absence of Ahmed Musa, William Troost-Ekong and Wilfred Ndidi, while senior players Kenneth Omeruo and Moses Simon are on the bench.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n 6) Semi Ajayi and Calvin start a game together in central defense for the fourth time. They were paired centrally twice against\u00a0S\u00e3o Tom\u00e9 and Pr\u00edncipe in AFCON qualifying and in last month’s friendly against Saudi Arabia.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n 7) Francis Uzoho makes his 12th start from a possible thirteen under Jose Peseiro – more than any other player in the squad.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n 8) Four starters are products of Nigeria’s youth teams : Francis Uzoho (2013 Golden Eaglets), Semi Ajayi (2013 Flying Eagles\u00a0 Toulon Tournament), KelechI Iheanacho (2013 Golden Eaglets), Taiwo Awoniyi (2013 Golden Eaglets).<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Nigeria starting lineup<\/strong>: Uzoho; Osayi-Samuel, Semi Ajayi, Bassey, Collins; Onyeka, Iwobi, Iheanacho, Lookman; Boniface, Awoniyi<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Substitutes: Obasogie, Ojo, Aina, Onyedika, Moffi, Aribo, Tella, Simon, Umar, Awaziem, Onyemaechi, Omeruo<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Ifeanyi Emmanuel\u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Copyright ANS<\/strong><\/p>\n
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