Unuanel tasks Moffi, Dessers ahead of Algeria clash

Former Kwara United manager Samson Unuanel has highlighted two members of the Super Eagles squad that need to impress the manager during the upcoming friendly.

Nigerian national team manager Jose Peseiro has called up a 25-man team for the impending international friendly against the Desert Foxes of Algeria. 

However, the Super Eagles forward line has been riddled with injuries with Victor Osimhen, Umar Sadiq, Ahmed Musa, Emmanuel Dennis, and Henry Onyekuru all confirmed to be unavailable due to injuries.

Thus Peseiro is left with Nottingham Forest striker Taiwo Awoniyi, Lorient hotshot Terem Moffi, and Cremonese new signing Cyriel Dessers as his senior options for a striker's berth against the Algerians.

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Speaking with Complete Sports ahead of the friendly, Unuanel noted that this is the chance for Moffi and Awoniyi to convince Peseiro about their ability for the Super Eagles in the absence of Osimhen.

The ex-Kwara United gaffer stated that Awoniyi and Moffi remain 'top quality strikers' even if they do not get the starting shirts with the national team.

Unuanel said: "Terem Moffi and Cyriel Dessers are two quality strikers with proven goal scoring records. They may not have gotten the opportunity of staking a regular shirt in the Super Eagles, however, I am convinced that [sic] are top quality strikers."

Unuanel reiterated that with Osimhen out of the Algeria clash, Moffi and Awoniyi must grab their chance to convince Peseiro when they face the 2019 African champions in Oran. 

"The truth is, they have plenty to prove in the senior national team now that Victor Osimhen won’t be part of the team for the Algeria game. There is no better time to convince the Super Eagles coach, Jose Peseiro if not now," Unuanel concluded.

The Super Eagles of Nigeria are billed to lock horns with the Desert Foxes of Algeria on Tuesday, September 27 in a one-off friendly encounter.

Algeria have won the last two games against Nigeria, defeating the Super Eagles 2-1 in the semifinals of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) before another friendly victory over the West Africans in 2020.