Nigeria coach Jose Peseiro has defended his decision to drop two in-form players from his squad for the upcoming international match.
Nigeria face Sierra Leone on Sunday, however, two omissions sparked debate after Peseiro announced his squad.
The Portuguese tactician dropped Belgium-based attackers Gift Orban and Victor Boniface from his squad for Sunday’s 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Sierra Leone at Samuel Kanyon Doe Stadium in Liberia.
The two in-form players were dropped from the 23-member preliminary list, sparking a backlash on Peseiro after he included an out-of-form Ahmed Musa, who finished his season in Turkey without a single goal in 17 games.
Responding to criticisms, Peseiro said: “Orban and Boniface could come for the camp, even I spent my own money visiting them.”
According to AllNigeriaSoccer, the coach added that he travelled with his own money to France, Belgium, Italy, Spain and England to see the players.
“I spent my own money. For that, I like to call them but if I call them I need to put some of these players out. I only called 19, I believe in the players but due to the financial situation I called only 19 foreign-based players.
“If I could invite more, of course, Orban, Boniface or others would have been called up. I understand the situation and have to help the Nigeria Football Federation, for that I called 19.
“If we have a decisive match, it’s better I call the players that I know better. Normally they work with me, these nineteen players, all the time. Boniface and Orban, the others, have time for sure because I believe in them and for that I visited them. They did a fantastic job.
“They may be sad after playing very well and were not invited, but Taiwo Awoniyi played well also for Nottingham Forest, Osimhen also. Musa is a winger not a striker. You cannot compare Musa with Orban or Boniface.”
