The Super Eagles camp is officially opened ahead of Nigeria’s crucial back-to-back qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup next week, as per latest reports.
Nigeria will host 1996 Africa Cup of Nations winner South Africa at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, on Friday, June 7.
The Super Eagles will, three days later, battle with the Benin Republic at the Stade Félix Houphouët-Boigny in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire.
Head coach Finidi George invited 23 players for the two games as he looks to get Nigeria’s wobbling start back on track.
Nine of those players have arrived in the team’s camp in Uyo, with Leicester City duo of Kelechi Iheanacho and Wilfred Ndidi among the early birds.
Two of the three NPFL-based players – Sodiq Ismail and Kenneth Igboke have also checked in to camp. Ismael was preferred to Ola Aina in the Super Eagles right-back role while Igboke was called in as a late replacement for injured Napoli star Victor Osimhen.
Chippa United goalkeeper Stankey Nwabali, Tanzania-based defender Benjamin Tanimu, and Hatayspor midfielder Fisayo Dele-Bashiru were also among the first to walk into the team’s hotel.
Rizespor star Ibrahim Olawoyin, who earned his first Super Eagles call-up since 2021 following the withdrawal of Bayer Leverkusen’s Nathan Tella, has also confirmed his arrival.
The latest player to arrive at the Super Eagles camp is AC Milan winger Samuel Chukwueze.
There have been injury concerns around Chukwueze after he was left out of AC Milan’s last two league matches of the season.
The fears were further heightened after the former Villarreal winger was left out of Milan’s Australian tour a few days ago.
However, Chukwueze, looking as fit as ever, has added his quality to the resources at the disposal of coach Finidi.
Nigeria have two points, one behind South Africa and two behind Rwanda, ahead of their matchday three encounter against the Bafana Bafana.
Olaitan Ibrahim