Super Eagles coach, Jose Peseiro, has come under scathing criticisms after he included a non-league player in his squad to face Guinea Bissau this weekend in an African Cup of Nations double-header qualifiers, Sunday PUNCH reports.
Peseiro’s 23-man squad list was released by the Nigeria Football Federation on Thursday, with three home-based players Victor Sochima from Rivers United, Kingsley Aniagboso of second-division club Giant Brillars and Daniel Bameyi of YumYum FC called up, with the latter’s invitation most controversial.
Flying Eagles captain at the recent U-20 AFCON in Egypt Bameyi, 17, is registered as a defender by non-league side YumYum FC.
Bameyi had featured in the Eagles squad that lost 2-0 to Costa Rica in a friendly in San Jose last November.
Lolade Adewuyi, a Nigerian journalist based in Germany, alleged that an official of the Nigerian Football Federation was influencing Bameyi’s invitation in view of making financial gains following his transfer.
“Someone from @thenff is looking to profit by pushing this young man, Daniel Bameyi, through the shopping window as much as possible,” Adewuyi stated.
“Daniel Bameyi plays for YumYum FC, a non-league side nobody seems to know about. He was part of Nigeria’s B team that played Costa Rica last year. He captained the U-20s in Egypt. Now he makes a Super Eagles 23-man squad after a bad outing at (U-20) AFCON.”
Ace broadcast journalist Charles Anazodo also wrote, “…an invitation to the Eagles seems like someone is trying too hard to get him (Bameyi) a deal. It smacks of indecency.”
Toyosi Afolayan added, “I won’t be surprised if Daniel Bameyi earns a move to Europe after this Super Eagles call-up. This is the highest racketeering of the highest order.”
UK -based David Doherty, who contested for the presidency of the Nigerian Football Federation last year, wrote, “Bameyi’s club Yum Yum FC was just created on Transfermarkt a day ago (Friday) and the only player they have is Bameyi.
“Until some people and their cronies are made scapegoats, this nonsense and corrupt practices will not stop in Nigerian football.”
Adebanjo Adeniyi @deniyiclement said, “In the @NGSuperEagles players have been capped who are based in the lower divisions and in China, players who are unattached as well have been invited but not academy players, this is the first for Kingsley Aniagboso (Giant Brillars) and Daniel Bameyi (YumYum FC). We are heading for disaster.”
Controversy also trails Peseiro’s overseas-based call ups, with captain Ahmed Musa and defender Kenneth Omeruo and midfielder Frank Onyekalargeky inactive, while striker Paul Onuachu, who joined Premier League side Southampton last January, has not hit the ground running for the relegation-threatened English club.
The exclusion of in-form duo Gift Orban and Victor Boniface exacerbated the situation, especially after the pair’s outstanding performances for Belgian clubs Gent and Union Saint Gilliose respectively.
Orban scored as many as four goals, including a spectacular free-kick, in a Belgian league encounter last Sunday to help KAA Gent hammer Zulte Waregem 6-2 at the Elindus Arena.
He then got a second consecutive hat-trick — the fastest treble in UEFA club competition history — last Wednesday to help Gent annihilate Istanbul Basaksehir 4-1 away in the Europa Conference League, sending his club into the quarter-finals of the competition.
Defender Omeruo has seen 244 minutes in 2023 for Leganes in the Segunda division in Spain, while captain Musa has seen only 10 minutes in his last seven games for Sivasspor in the Turkish Super Lig.
Fans took to Twitter to slam both the NFF and Peseiro for calling up Musa and Omeruo for the fixtures.
“Musa only returns to the world when it is time for Super Eagles to play,” @zachywhacky_ tweeted.
@a_oluwadunsin wrote, “Lol. How’s Musa still getting in this squad? How?”
@AlexSilveruche tweeted, “What will Musa offer this Eagles, why is he invited again?”
@Mansur_Ibro posted, “Ndidi, Aribo, Omeruo and Ahmed Musa getting called up in 2023?”
@Detribalized_1 tweeted, “Omeruo over Olisah Ndah. What’s all this?”
@Chelsea_2580 added, “Even squad list, INEC don rig am! “Can’t we ever get anything right in this country ni!!! What’s Musa and Omeruo doing on this list when we have good and exciting players in the NPFL? Aribo does not even make the bench at Southampton, Frank Onyeka just came back from injury! Nawa.”
@MrJapola wrote, “Nigeria is not a serious country. No merit. How do you call up Simon Moses, Musa and ignore Gift Orban of Gent, who scored seven goals in two games? Scored a hat-trick just days ago in UEFA competition. Chuba Akpom ahead of Paul Onuachu for me. That man (Peseiro) has added absolutely nothing to team.”
@teefresh_mic asked, “What is Musa doing in this squad? He has paid his dues, let him allow other young players serve their fatherland na.”
@DatDami_Dee stated, “God, what is Musa still doing there? Is this because he’s from the north?”
@Bestdgooner wrote, “Is that Ahmed Musa? I mean the Ahmed Musa? How old is he now? Should be 100?”
@TMaykah said,“Musa and Omeruo shouldn’t be in this team if we’re to be honest with ourselves.”
@Ade15026 posted, “Even if Ahmed Musa clocks 50, he will still get invited.”
@dat_teewhy queried, “What’s Ahmed Musa doing in this team?”
@kwenyerechukwu_ wrote, “Unpopular opinion, Ahmed Musa isn’t needed in the team anymore!”
