The Abuja camp of the Nigerian national football team has fully come alive as there are now no fewer than 22 players preparing for the Afcon qualifiers
Super Eagles captain Ahmed Musa and Ajax Amsterdam defender Calvin Bassey have arrived in Abuja to bring the number of players at the disposal of head coach Jose Peseiro to 22.
Soccernet earlier reported the arrival of
Everton midfielder Alex Iwobi, Leicester City duo of Kelechi Iheanacho and Wilfred Ndidi, and Hoffenheim defender Kevin Akpoguma.
Among those that also came into camp early are Southampton midfielder Joe Aribo, Atalanta forward Ademola Lookman, goalkeeper Francis Uzoho and West Brom centre-back Semi Ajayi.
Rivers United goalkeeper Victor Sochima as well as Flying Eagles youngsters Daniel Bameyi and Chijioke Aniagboso, are also in.
Fenerbahce full-back Bright Osayi-Samuel, Brentford’s Frank Onyeka, Nantes winger Moses Simon, Leganes ace Kenneth Omeruo and Southampton ace Paul Onuachu have since joined them.
OGC Nice striker Terem Moffi has also breezed into the team camp.
Napoli striker and Serie A leading goalscorer Victor Osimhen has reported to camp alongside Boavista’s Bruno Onyemaechi and Villarreal’s Samuel Chukwueze.
The Super Eagles will host Guinea-Bissau in Abuja on March 24 before facing the same opponents three days later at the Estádio Nacional 24 de Setembro in Bissau.
Victory for the Super Eagles in both games will see Nigeria book their qualification ticket to the next edition of the Afcon.
The Nigeria Football Federation has rejected local media reports claiming that Finidii George and Ike Shorunmu were fired from the Super Eagles technical crew.
The NFF clarified in a statement that Finidi and Shorunmu are not with the team in Abuja due to a rotation policy among the assistant coaches based on the high number of them.
Usman Abdallah is presently with the team for the Super Eagles Vs. Djurtus of Guinea Bissau, as Finidi took his turn in the camp for the previous program. Salisu Yusuf, who could have been a possible contender, was instead sent to the U23 team.
The case of goalkeepers’ trainer Ike Shorunmu is different, as he showed a lack of desire to be in camp for the matches against Guinea Bissau.
Manager Jose Peseiro requested the services of Olatunji Baruwa, who he had seen at work during the U20 AFCON in Egypt, to assist in training the goalkeepers after Shorunmu refused to join the team.
This post was last modified on March 21, 2023 9:36 pm