José Peseiro, head coach of the Super Eagles, has justified his decision to include Daniel Bamaiyi in his squad for the 2023 AFCON double header versus Flying Eagles Guinea Bissau.

Nigeria will host the first leg of the top-of-the-table fixture on Friday at the Moshood Abiola Stadium in Abuja, with the second leg scheduled for Monday, March 27 at the Estádio 24 de Setembro in Bissau.

The inclusion of the Flying Eagles captain, who was scouted from a non-league team, drew a lot of criticism from critics and fans alike, but the Portuguese explained his reasoning during the press conference.

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“There are many players, it’s not easy to choose from.

“If I choose many foreign based I must choose from local clubs too.

“I watched many games and I have evaluated players performances.

“I chose him because he is a good defender.” The Portuguese tactician said.

He added, “I believe in his quality in that position. He’s a utility player who can play in different positions at the back.

“It’s not easy building a national team as there are many good players. If I choose one it means he is better than others.” He concluded

Nigeria currently leads the 2023 AFCON qualifying Group A standings with six points from two games, while Guinea-Bissau is second with four points from two games.

Following the 2-2 draw in Freetown, Sierra Leone remains third in the group with three points, while Sao Tome & Principe earns its first point on Wednesday.

Nigeria defeated Cameroon in the group stage of the 2021 AFCON tournament, winning 2-0 thanks to goals from Umar Sadiq and William Troost-Ekong.

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