The Super Eagles stars to watch out for when Nigeria hosts Guinea-Bissau this weekend in the AFCONQ2023.
International football returns this weekend for the first time since the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, with Nigeria Super Eagles in action.
The Super Eagles will this Friday host Guinea-Bissau at the in-famous M.K.O Abiola Stadium in Abuja in a crucial AFCONQ2023 encounter.
Jose Peseiro, Super Eagles manager, named a 23-man squad for the double-header, with 13 of them already in the Abuja camp for the clash in Abuja.
Ahead of that encounter in the nation's capital, here are five (5) Super Eagles players to watch out for.
Nigeria Super Eagles stars to watch out
The Napoli superstar is quite easily one player who will be the cynosure of all eyes when the Nigeria Super Eagles face Guinea-Bissau.
Victor Osimhen is in superb former for his Serie A club, having scored 23 goals in 28 outings to take them to the top of the Serie A and a historic Champions League quarterfinal place.
Osimhen will lead the lines for the Super Eagles on Friday and Nigerians will be keen to see if the fan favourite in Napoli will transfer his club form to the national team.
The Villarreal man is another Super Eagles player coming into this particular fixture in great form.
Samuel Chukwueze is having is best season for the Yellow Submarine, in terms of his numbers, with the in-form winger signed off for international break with one goal and an assist for his club in a 3-0 win over Osasuna.
The performance took his tally to an incredible 11 goals and 11 assists across competitions this season for Villarreal.
While his form and productivity have improved at club level, the 23-year-old is yet to convince Nigerians at international stage and this will be tested again this weekend.
- Bright Osayi-Samuel
Fernerbahce defender Bright Osayi-Samuel makes the list as one player who is relatively unknown especially to Super Eagles fans at home.
Osayi-Samuel made his international debut in that 4-0 defeat to Portugal in a pre-World Cup match.
The 25-year-old has been handed a recall to the team and will have the chance to announce himself properly to Nigerians when he makes his home debut in Abuja.
There have been questions around his latest invitation after just seven starts for Fernerbahce in the league this season. Nigerians will be looking to see what the fullback is about and why he seems to have earned the trust of Super Eagles coach, Peseiro.
With the oyinbo-wall duo of Leon Balogun and William Troost-Ekong set to miss the Guinea-Bissau game, Kevin Akpoguma could keep his place in the Super Eagles.
The 27-year-old was a part of that defeat to Portugal last year when he partnered vice captain, Troost-Ekong, who will the match this time due to an injury.
Akpoguma will get a closer look from Nigerians when he takes to the Abiola pitch on Friday.
While Everton are langiushing in relegation zone at the moment, Alex Iwobi has had a good season on a personal note.
With a limited option to choose from in the Super Eagles midfield, Alex Iwobi, 26, will have to shoulder huge responsibilty against Guniea-Bissau.
Nigeria Super Eagles coach, Peseiro, will be happy to have the playmaker back and playing excellent football in the middle of the park after he Portuguese was the first to deploy the former Arsenal star in that role.