AT least 17 players were already at the Super Eagles’ camp in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE), ahead of their campaign at this year’s Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament holding in Cote d’Ivoire.
The Nigerian national team, who are three-time African champions, are hoping to end a 10-year drought in Africa’s biggest football competition.
A tweet on the Super Eagles official twitter (“X”) handle, said a total of 17 players were among early arrivals at the team’s training camp in Abu Dhabi.
The players already in camp on Wednesday, January 3 include Ahmed Musa, Kenneth Omeruo, Moses Simon, Olorunleke Ojo, Alex Iwobi, Semi Ajayi, Ola Aina, Calvin Bassey, Ademola Lookman, Joe Aribo, Frank Onyeka, Bruno Onyemaechi, Chidozie Awaziem, Zaidu Sanusi, Victor Boniface, Raphael Onyedika and Bright Osayi-Samuel.
The camp began to bubble following the arrival of the players and the coaching crew, who were welcomed to the training camp by head coach, Jose Peseiro, and his crew, even as preparations for the competition began with the first official training on Wednesday.
According to the tweet: “Team captain, Musa, was among the first to report to camp, soon joined by fellow 2013 AFCON winner Omeruo; Nantes winger, Simon; and Enyimba FC goalkeeper, Ojo.
“Fulham’s duo of Iwobi and Bassey, as well as West Brom’s Ajayi; Southampton midfielder, Aribo; Brentford’s Onyeka; and Nottingham Forest defender, Aina, landed from England.
“Portugal-based defender, Awaziem; Onyemaechi of Boavista; and Porto’s Sanusi were also in the camp, as well as Atalanta forward, Lookman, Bayer Leverkusen’s Boniface; Club Brugge’s Onyedika and Fenerbahce’s Osayi-Samuel.”
Those expected to join the camp include Napoli striker, Victor Osimhen; AC Milan winger, Samuel Chukwueze; Leicester City forward, Kelechi Iheanacho; and goalkeepers Stanley Nwabili and Francis Uzoho, as well as William Troost-Ekong and Umar Sadiq.
The team was expected to have its second official training on Thursday, January 4.
Sadly, Wilfred Ndidi has dropped out of the team after suffering an injury. In his place, Royal Antwerp’s Alhassan Yusuf has been called up for the defensive midfielder.
