2025 AFCON Qualifiers: Troost-Ekong, Lookman, 8 others begin preparation in Uyo
Super Eagles captain, William Troost-Ekong, and eight other members of the team arrived at the Uyo camp in Akwa Ibom to prepare for the 2025 AFCON qualifying clash with the Cheetahs of Benin Republic.
The clash will hold on Saturday, September 7 at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo.
Other early arrivals to the camp were Ola Aina, Semi Ajayi, Ademola Lookman, Olisa Ndah, Taiwo Awoniyi, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, Wilfred Ndidi, Amas Obasogie and Victor Boniface.
Chippa United of South Africa goalkeeper, Stanley Nwabali’s late arrival brought the number of players in camp to 11.
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) had announced the list of 23 players to prosecute the two AFCON qualifiers against Benin Republic and Rwanda.
The list also saw the return to the team of the captain Troost-Ekong, Ola Aina, Taiwo Awoniyi and the embattled Napoli striker, Victor Osimhen to the squad.
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The quartet wasn’t part of the team that fumbled in the two World Cup qualifying matches against South Africa and Benin Republic in May.
Meanwhile, interim manager Augustine Eguavoen has selected Enugu Rangers’ Head Coach, Fidelis Ilechukwu and Daniel Ogunmodede of Remo Stars to assist him plot the downfall of the Cheetahs of Benin Republic and the Amavubi of Rwanda in the Super Eagles’ 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches this month.
Ilechukwu led the Flying Antelopes to triumph in Nigeria’s elite division last season, with Ogunmodede’s Remo Stars in second place.
They will be joined in Uyo by Tomaz Zorec, a fitness trainer from Slovenia, goalkeeper trainer Olatunji Baruwa and match analyst, Eboboritse Uwejamomere.
After the opening Group D clash with the Cheetahs of Benin Republic on Saturday, the three-time African champions will depart for Kigali on Sunday, for Tuesday’s Matchday 2 clash with the Amavubi (Bees) of Rwanda at the Amahoro Stadium.
The 2025 AFCON qualifiers will be held in the month of September, October and November 2024 with a total of 24 teams qualifying for the final tournament.
Morocco as the host have qualified automatically for the continental showpiece to be staged in December 2025.
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