Two Elephants, One Panther Storm Super Eagles Camp In Lagos

Barely 24 hours after the Nigerian senior national team camp opened ahead of the country’s Afcon engagements this month, a significant number of Europe-based and home-based stars have reported for duty

A couple of hours after inspiring Enyimba FC to an excellent away victory over Sunshine Stars in Lagos, the duo of goalkeeper John Noble and winger Anayo Iwuala has arrived at the Super Eagles camp in Lagos.

Goalkeeper Noble claimed the assist that led to Samson Obi’s second-half strike that sunk the Akure Arsenal on Monday evening, earning all three points for the Aba Elephants.

Iwuala and Noble are honouring their maiden call-up to the Super Eagles. The two stars of the People’s Elephants will hope to transfer their club form to the national team should they be called upon to face any of Benin and Lesotho.

Also joining his international teammates on Monday is Boavista’s Chidozie Awaziem, adding the Portuguese spice to an increasingly exciting Nigerian camp.

On loan from Porto, the young defender has been a crucial player for the Panthers in their bid to avoid relegation from the Primeira League.

A few notable stars, including Napoli’s Victor Osimhen, Sparta Rotterdam’s Maduka Okoye, and Rangers duo of Joe Aribo and Leon Balogun are still expected to join the national team in Lagos.

England based defenders Fulham’s Ola Aina, Watford’s William Troost-Ekong, and West Brom’s Semi Ajayi are the early arrivals alongside Turkey-based duo of Henry Onyekuru and Oghenekaro Etebo.

Nigeria travel to Porto Novo on March 27 to face the Benin Republic in one of the last two matches in the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying round.