Sierra Lone vs Nigeria: 5 Super Eagles players to watch out vs Leone Stars
i

Divine Nwachukwu during a game for Bendel Insurance. (Photo Credit: Euphoria/twitter)

FOOTBALL Sierra Lone vs Nigeria: 5 Super Eagles players to watch out vs Leone Stars

Sierra Lone vs Nigeria: 5 Super Eagles players to watch out vs Leone Stars

Izuchukwu Akawor • 14:52 - 16.06.2023

The players you need to keep your eyes on as Super Eagles battle Sierra Leone this weekend in the AFCONQ2023.

Nigeria’s Super Eagles have everything to do this weekend in the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

The Super Eagles face Sierra Leone this Sunday in an all-important clash with a lot at stake for both nations.

var widgetLoaderConfig = widgetLoaderConfig || { CDN_URL: 'https://widgets.sportal365.com', APP_LINK: 'desktop', API_URL: 'https://africa.football.api.sportal365.com/', API_KEY: '2f852b4de2f3a5cf3188e74b33087bb4:2c18422f8e826a7d11aeed52edb2449e', LANG: 'en', REQUEST_INTERVAL: 30, ENABLE_BET_SLIP: false, AUTHOR: false, THEME: "light", TOURNAMENT_ORDER: "pulse_nigeria", LINK_OPTIONS_V2: { 'player' : { 'url': '/football/player/{playerId}' }, 'team' : { 'url': '/football/{teamId}' }, 'tournament': { 'url': '/football/competition/{tournamentId}' }, 'match': { 'url' : '/football/match/{matchId}', 'sort': { 'criteria': 'alphabetically', 'direction': 'asc' } }, 'configuration': { 'newWindow': false }, 'standings_tournament': { 'url': '/football/competition/{tournamentId}/standings' } } }; if (!document.querySelector('script[src="https://widgets.sportal365.com/loader.bundle.min.js"]')) { window.setTimeout(function () { let scriptCss = document.createElement('link'); scriptCss.href = 'https://www.pulsesports.ng/css/sport-widgets.css?v=1668785443'; scriptCss.rel = 'stylesheet'; scriptCss.type = 'text/css'; document.body.appendChild(scriptCss); let scriptTag = document.createElement('script'); scriptTag.src = 'https://widgets.sportal365.com/loader.bundle.min.js'; scriptTag.defer = true; scriptTag.onload = function () { window.setTimeout(function () { new SMPWidgetsLoader(widgetLoaderConfig); }, 200); }; document.head.appendChild(scriptTag); }, 0); } else { new SMPWidgetsLoader(widgetLoaderConfig); }

Nigeria will go into the encounter in second place in their group. Still, it could become one of the countries to seal a ticket to the Ivory Coast next year with a win in Monrovia.

With that said, here are five (5) players to watch out for as the Nigeria Super Eagles tackle the Leone Stars.

1. Divine Nwachukwu, Central Midfielder

The Bendel Insurance midfielder is one of four players invited by Super Eagles boss Jose Peseiro invited to the national team.

Divine Nwachukwu has earned his first-ever call-up to the Super Eagles after an impressive outing for Bendel Insurance in the recently concluded NPFL Super 6 Playoffs.

NPFL Super 6
Divine Nwachukwu during an interview with Pulse Sports Nigeria after his invitation was confirmed..

Eagles manager Peseiro was impressed with the Nwachukwu’s performance in Lagos and believes he has the quality to help the team in the middle of the park.

The talented midfielder scored three goals in five matches in the Super 6 and could bring that productivity into the Super Eagles if given the opportunity.

Super Eagles
Divine Nwachukwu and Ebube Duru trained alone following their arrival in camp.

2. Adebayo Adeleye, Goalkeeper

Israel-based goalkeeper Adebayo Adeleye is certainly one player who will be the cynosure of all eyes when Nigeria faces Sierra Leone this weekend.

Adeleye, who has become popular following his striking resemblance with Cameroonian goalkeeper Andre Onana, is favoured to start in goal on Sunday.

Super Eagles
Adebayo Adeleye is favourite to start in goal for Super Eagles vs Sierra Leone.

The 23-year-old, who told Pulse Sports Nigeria that he loves to play with his feet, is the only foreign-based goalkeeper invited to the Super Eagles.

In the absence of Maduka Okoye and Francis Uzoho, Adeleye has the chance to stake a claim in a position that has become a big problem for Nigeria since the retirement of Carl Ikeme.

Super Eagles
Super Eagles goalkeeper Adeleye likes to watch Andre Onana.

Nigerians will be looking out to see if the semblance between the Hapoel Jerusalem star and Onana goes beyond just their looks.

3. Victor Osimhen, Striker

Without a shadow of a doubt, SSC Napoli icon Victor Osimhen is currently Nigeria’s biggest superstar.

Victor Osimhen
Victor Osimhen is now a hero in Naples.

Osimhen’s stock has hit an all-time high following an excellent 2022/23 season that saw him inspire Napoli to a historic first Serie A title in 33 years.

The 24-year-old netted 26 goals in that historic win to become the first African to win the striker of the season in Serie A history.

AFCON 2023
Victor Osimhen will hope to bring his Napoli form to the Super Eagles.

What Osimhen achieved with Napoli has seen him become not just a hero in Naples but an icon across the world.

With his current status, Nigerians will be hoping to see the in-demand forward bring some of that Napoli juice to the Super Eagles as they look to see if he can make amends after the last outing in Abuja.

4. Bright Osayi-Samuel, Rightback

The Fenerbahce star seems to have made the right-back position his in the Super Eagles.

AFCON 2023
Bright Osayi-Samuel could be on the way to the Premier League

Osayi-Samuel was the star the last time Nigeria played in the AFCON qualifiers against Guinea-Bissau.

His brilliance on the right proved decisive as he won the penalty that was converted by Moses Simon to help the Eagles bounce back from that shock defeat in Abuja.

Bright Osayi-Samuel was impressive agianst Guinea-Bissau

Osayi has the chance to prove again that he is one of the players that Nigerians can count on now when the Eagles take to the pitch against Sierra Leone.

5. Samuel Chukwueze, Forward

Villarreal winger Samuel Chukwueze has had his best season in Spain for his LaLiga club.

LaLiga
Samuel Chukwueze is the LaLiga African player of the year.

The right winger’s impressive season culminated in him being named the LaLiga African Player of the Season for 2023.

However, while he has been brilliant for the Yellow Submarines, the 24-year-old has some making up to do after his last outing for Nigeria at home.

Super Eagles
Samuel Chukwueze needs to show some of his Villarreal brilliance on Sunday.

Chukwueze had a game to forget against Guinea-Bissau and all eyes will be on him to see if he can finally show Nigerians a glimpse of that player who has emerged as a target for LaLiga giants Real Madrid.

Related content

Tags:
Nigeria Bendel Insurance NPFL Guinea-Bissau Victor Osimhen SSC Napoli