Uzoho faced a lot of criticisms after recent performances in the Super Eagles’s shirt
By Kehinde Okeowo
The official squad numbers of Nigeria’s 25-man list for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Cote d’Ivoire have been unveiled by the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
Each of the 25 selected players were allocated a jersey number ranging from 1 to 25.
Francis Uzoho, despite previous uncertainties regarding his status in the team, seems to have been handed the first-choice goalkeeping position at the tournament.
The Omonia Nicosia goalkeeper was handed the no1 shirt, in what is a clear hint he will likely be in goal.
However, unlike Uzoho, whose position was uncertain, Napoli striker, Victor Osimhen, was handed the no9 shirt as widely expected.
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Newly invited players Olorunleke Ojo, Stanley Nwabili, and Alhassan Yusuf are expected to don jersey numbers 16, 23, and 4, respectively.
Victor Boniface, typically assigned number 22 at Bayer Leverkusen, opted for 24 during the AFCON
Other shirt numbers are Ahmed Musa (7), Joe Aribo (10), Victor Boniface (24), Alex Iwobi (17), Kelechi Iheanacho (14) and Samuel Chukwueze (11).
The Super Eagles will play in Group A along with hosts Ivory Coast, Equatorial Guinea and Guinea-Bissau.
The competition will be played from January 13 until February 11.
The full list of jersey nos and players donning them are as follows:
1. Francis Uzoho
2. Ola Aina
3. Zaidu Sanusi
4. Alhassan Yusuf
5. William Troost-Ekong
6. Semi Ajayi
7. Ahmed Musa
8. Frank Onyeka
9. Victor Osimhen
10. Joe Aribo
11. Samuel Chukwueze
12. Bright Osayi-Samuel
13. Bruno Onyemaechi
14. Kelechi Iheanacho
15. Moses Simon
16. Ojo Olorunleke
17. Alex Iwobi
18. Ademola Lookman
19. Umar Sadiq
20. Chidozie Awaziem
21. Calvin Bassey
22. Kenneth Omeruo
23. Stanley Nwabili
24. Victor Boniface
25. Raphael Onyedika
