Revealed: How Peseiro’s decision to axe six senior Super Eagles players backfired

The head coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Jose Peseiro is currently under huge pressure for the team to meet expectations at next month Africa Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire.

His short term deal with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) will expire after the tournament but it will be extended if he leads the team to at least the final of the tournament.

In the build up to the tournament, the team has lost 60 percent of the games played since the Portuguese was made coach of the team, and more revelations has now been made about how he has handled the team in the period under review.

After securing passage to the AFCON, the coach started the process of building a team for the AFCON and took a drastic decision to axe six senior players from the team, with some even kicked out of the squad entirely.

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In defence, the first casualty was the two vice captain of the team in William Troost-Ekong ans Kenneth Omeruo, It’s started with the coach dropping the duo to the bench before kicking Ekong out totally but kept Omeruo as a squad player.

Captain Ahmed Musa wasn’t spared as well and unless a late change of mind he won’t be in the team to the Africa Cup of Nations, while he had his way with the above mentioned trio, the idea backfired with certain senior players in the team.

Peseiro also dropped Moses Simon to the bench in preference for Ademola Lookman but after two poor performances from the Atalanta man he brought Simon back.

Shoretire battles Gernacho for Man Utd goal of the week award

Newcastle-born Nigerian midfielder Shola Shoretire is in the running for the monthly Manchester United’s Goal of the Month award for November 2023 award.

Shoretire’s wonderful free kick against  Everton in a Premier League 2 match is included among the 10 contenders for the award.

Shoretire, who captained the development squad in several games this season, has been starved of game time for the first team since Erik ten Hag took over the managerial reins at Old Trafford.

Still, he has continued to impress for the U21s after missing out on a loan move in the summer.

The Jimmy Murphy Young Player of the Year for 2020-2021 has been shortlisted for his brilliant goal against Everton in a Premier League 2 fixture on November 4 at Leigh Sports Village.

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As the clock edged towards the half-hour mark, Manchester United won a free-kick in a dangerous position on the edge of the box, and up stepped Shoretire.

The 19-year-old had the skill to put his strike under the Everton wall and outwit goalkeeper Fraser Barnsley to double the home team’s advantage.

Nine other strikes have also made it onto the list, including efforts from club captain Bruno Fernandes (who has been doubly nominated), Ella Toone, Millie Turner, Ethan Wheatley, Alejandro Garnacho, Rasmus Højlund, Nikita Parris, and Anthony Martial.

Shoretire has directly participated in nine goals (6 goals, 3 assists) in ten outings for United’s development squad so far this season.

To vote for your favorite goal, head to the Manchester United website or app. Voting closes on Monday, December 4, at 12:00 GMT.

Shoretire battles Gernacho for Man Utd goal of the week award

Why I won the 2022 World Cup – Messi

Argentina captain, Lionel Messi, has opened up on his triumph at last year’s FIFA world cup in Qatar.

Recall that the 36-year-old scored twice to edge out France in the pulsating final played at Lusail Stadium.