Super Eagles caretaker coach, Augustine Eguavoen has unveiled his squad for the upcoming 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying fixtures against Benin Republic and Rwanda.

Eguavoen named 23 players in his squad for both games.

Nasarawa United defender, Victor Collins is the home-based player in the list.

Auxerre defender, Gabriel Osho will have the chance to make his debut for the three-time African champions after earning his second invitation.

Talismanic forward, Victor Osimhen makes a return to the team after missing out the last time due to injury

The Super Eagles will be up against the Cheetahs of Benin Republic at the Felix Houphet Boigny Stadium, Abidjan on Thursday, November 14.

They will host the Amavubi of Rwanda four days later at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo.

FULL LIST

Goalkeepers: Stanley Nwabali (Chippa United, South Africa); Maduka Okoye (Udinese FC, Italy); Amas Obasogie (Fasil Kenema SC, Ethiopia)

Defenders: William Ekong (Al-Kholood FC, Saudi Arabia); Bright Osayi-Samuel (Fenerbahce SK, Turkey); Bruno Onyemaechi (Boavista FC, Portugal); Gabriel Osho (AJ Auxerre, France); Calvin Bassey (Fulham FC, England); Olaoluwa Aina (Nottingham Forest, England); Victor Collins (Nasarawa United)

Midfielders: Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England); Raphael Onyedika (Club Brugge, Belgium); Alhassan Yusuf Abdullahi (New England Revolution, USA); Fisayo Dele-Bashiru (Lazio FC. Italy); Frank Onyeka (Augsburg FC, Germany); Alex Iwobi (Fulham FC, England

Forwards: Samuel Chukwueze (AC Milan, Italy); Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray FC, Turkey); Ademola Lookman (Atalanta FC, Italy); Kelechi Iheanacho (Sevilla FC, Spain); Victor Boniface (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany); Moses Simon (FC Nantes, France); Sadiq Umar (Real Sociedad, Spain)

Reports from Brazilian sports website UOL indicate that Neymar Jr.’s future at his Saudi club is in doubt, with the team reportedly considering terminating his contract as early as January.

This move comes after the Brazilian star’s persistent injury troubles, which have sidelined him for much of the season, leaving him with only seven appearances since his high-profile transfer from Paris Saint-Germain (PSG).

The Saudi club, having made a significant financial investment in Neymar’s transfer and salary, is now reportedly exploring its options as it looks to mitigate losses.

With Neymar’s injuries continuing to affect his on-field contributions, the club is said to be weighing the possibility of cutting ties early and possibly seeking a new marquee signing, with Cristiano Ronaldo being mentioned as a potential target.

Neymar’s struggles with fitness have cast a shadow over what was initially seen as a groundbreaking move to Saudi Arabia. The club’s decision, if it moves forward, would mark a dramatic shift in their approach, as they shift focus toward finding a new star player to drive the team forward.

Viktor Gyokeres scored a hat-trick as Ruben Amorim’s Sporting stunned Manchester City with a 4-1 win in the Champions League on Tuesday, while Liverpool trounced Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen and AC Milan beat holders Real Madrid in Spain.

Sporting stole the show with their performance in Lisbon, but the Portuguese champions had to come from behind after Phil Foden put City ahead early on.

Amorim was hoping to sign off from the Champions League in style as Sporting coach before he leaves for Manchester United, and Gyokeres then took centre stage.

The Swedish striker equalised seven minutes before half-time, holding off Champions League debutant Jahmai Simpson-Pusey as he ran through to finish.

Sporting then went ahead 19 seconds into the second half as Maximiliano Araujo finished off a fine move, and shortly after that Gyokeres converted a penalty following a foul by Josko Gvardiol.

City could have pulled one back, but Erling Haaland hit the bar from the spot. Gyokeres showed Haaland how to do it as he scored his second spot-kick to complete a hat-trick, condemning City to their heaviest losing margin in Europe since a 3-0 loss to Liverpool in April 2018.

Gyokeres has 23 goals in 17 games in all competitions this season and will surely be the next star to leave Sporting for a bigger club elsewhere following Amorim’s departure.

“It was written that it had to be like that I think, there is no other explanation,” Amorim, at Sporting since 2020, said of a famous victory.

“I think everyone who has been here in the last four years deserved this. It was a special night.”

Diaz hat-trick

City have seven points at the halfway stage in the new-look Champions League, while Sporting are second on 10 points, behind only Liverpool, who are the sole team with the maximum 12 points.

Luis Diaz scored a hat-trick as the Anfield club secured a statement 4-0 win over Leverkusen on the night Alonso returned to Merseyside, with all the goals coming in the second half.

Diaz put Liverpool ahead just after the hour mark and Cody Gakpo headed in shortly after. Diaz scored again to make it 3-0 and then got his third and his team’s fourth in stoppage time, leaving the German champions on seven points after four outings.

“I think it’s a good result against a very good team,” Gakpo told Amazon Prime.

“They played a very good game, but we kept going, trying, creating chances, defending well.”

Real slump again

Madrid suffered their second loss in four games in the competition this season as they went down 3-1 at home to Milan.

The Italians, whose tally of seven European Cups is bettered only by Real’s 15, went ahead early on through Malick Thiaw, but the hosts soon drew level through a Vinicius Junior penalty.

However, Alvaro Morata put Milan back ahead before the interval against his old club, following in to finish after a Rafael Leao shot was parried.

Milan got their third on 73 minutes after great play by Leao set up Tijjani Reijnders to score, and Antonio Ruediger had a late effort disallowed for Real.

“When we are 11 lions on the pitch, it is very difficult for a team to beat us,” Morata said at full-time.

Monaco are third in the standings with 10 points following a 1-0 victory at Bologna, secured thanks to captain Thilo Kehrer’s late goal.

Dortmund are fourth on nine points after Donyell Malen’s 85th-minute goal gave them a 1-0 win at home to Sturm Graz.

Dusan Vlahovic’s penalty allowed Juventus to come from behind and draw 1-1 at Lille, after Canada’s Jonathan David had given the French side the lead.

Celtic impress

Celtic have seven points after a fine fightback secured a 3-1 win for the Scottish champions against RB Leipzig in Glasgow.

Christoph Baumgartner fired Leipzig in front but a brilliant Nicolas Kuehn strike brought Celtic level and he then put them ahead in first-half stoppage time. Reo Hatate got their third.

PSV Eindhoven crushed Girona 4-0, with Ryan Flamingo and Malik Tillman netting in the first half. Arnau Martinez was sent off for Girona before Johan Bakayoko made it 3-0 and Ladislav Krejci scored an own goal.

Dinamo Zagreb came back to win 4-1 at Slovan Bratislava with Sandro Kulenovic scoring twice for the Croatians.

Slovan, Sturm Graz and Leipzig have lost four out of four.

AFP