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Super Eagles head coach Jose Peseiro gives reasons why Middlesbrough's Chuba Akpom has not been invited to the national team
Super Eagles coach Jose Peseiro has said that the number of strikers in the Nigerian national team at the moment does not allow a call-up for Middlesbrough sensation Chuba Akpom.
Akpom left out of Super Eagles team despite fine form for Middlesbrough
Akpom has scored 24 goals in 31 matches in the English Championship with Middlesbrough and has been one of the best players in the English second division.
Akpom was named Championship player of the month in December 2022 and has also been named PFA Championship fans’ player of the month on three occasions, winning the award in November, January, and February.
Despite being in superb form and already declaring his interest in playing for the Super Eagles two years ago, Akpom is yet to get a call-up for the national team.
Current Super Eagles coach Jose Peseiro has blamed his lack of interest in the 27-year-old ex-England Youth International on the overabundance of attacking talent in the Nigerian national team set-up.
Peseiro says there is no room for Akpom at the moment
Speaking ahead of Nigeria’s AFCON 2023 qualifying game against Guinea Bissau, Peseiro said the only reason Akpom had not received a call-up was that there was nobody to axe from the current team in favour of the Middlesbrough man.
When asked at the Pre-match press conference why Akpom had not been selected, Peseiro said, “Tell me, give me one chance, take one guy from our team, and put him [Akpom]. Who do you choose?
“I like all my players, I like them. [But], I understand you, I understand every word, because sure if I ask you to choose twenty players, everybody can change other players, but I like my players.
Peseiro went further to say that he has chosen the players he feels will best fit his team, and while Akpom is a very good player, he does not believe that the Middlesbrough man will fit the current system.
“I am a coach, I choose, in my mind, the best players for our team. I visit[ed] many players in their clubs, if I choose this one, in this moment, I believe more [in] them than the others.”
Akpom will sit out this international break but will be hoping to return to form with Middlesbrough to see if he can change Peseiro’s mind.
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