22 Super Eagles players begin training in Abidjan
Story by Victor Itodo ABUH
The Nigeria Football Federation has confirmed that all invited players have arrived at their Abidjan camp for the final phase of the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, except Real Sociedad striker Sadiq Umar.
The remaining 22 players participated in their first training session on Tuesday as they ramped up preparations for a crucial encounter against neighbouring Benin Republic on Thursday.
The match is set to take place at the familiar Stade Felix Houphouet-Boigny in Abidjan.
“We have 22 players, with only one person to join the team by Wednesday. It has been a particularly nice atmosphere here in Abidjan, and we are all very positive going into the first training session ahead of the match,” interim coach Augustine Eguavoen told thenff.com.
Goalkeeper Amas Obasogie, defenders Gabriel Osho and Bruno Onyemaechi, midfielders Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, Frank Onyeka, and Raphael Onyedika, along with forwards Moses Simon and Samuel Chukwueze were the early arrivals.
They were later joined by Maduka Okoye, Wilfred Ndidi, and Kelechi Iheanacho on Monday.
Eleven more players joined the camp on Tuesday morning, including Captain William Troost-Ekong, current Africa Player of the Year Victor Osimhen, Atalanta forward Ademola Lookman, defenders Bright Osayi-Samuel, Olaoluwa Aina, Victor Collins, and Calvin Bassey.
Midfielders Alex Iwobi and Alhassan Yusuf Abdullahi, as well as Germany-based forward Victor Boniface, completed the group. South Africa-based goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali arrived later in the day.
Nigeria currently leads Group D with 10 points, and a victory would secure their place at the upcoming AFCON in Morocco, leaving a game to spare against Rwanda on Monday.
Troost-Ekong acknowledged the challenge posed by the Cheetahs, who previously defeated the Super Eagles 2-1 in a 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying match at the same venue in June.
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He said, “The stadium is a familiar one for us, and we have good memories from the AFCON. We will rather focus on the positive results we have taken away from here and work hard for another good day in the office on Thursday.
“It is not going to be easy because the Beninoise are also chasing a ticket to the final tournament. However, our objective is clear: three points on the night.”
CAF has appointed Senegalese official Issa Sy to referee the match.
Sy officiated when the Super Eagles triumphed over Angola 1-0 at the same stadium in a quarterfinal match of the Africa Cup of Nations.
He will be assisted by compatriots Djibril Camara (assistant 1), Nouha Bangoura (assistant 2), and El Hadji Amadou Sy (fourth official). Ivorian René Williams Sere will serve as the match commissioner, while Angolan Inacio Manuel Candido will be the referee assessor.
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