Super Eagles news: Uyo’s first session and the seven still to come

Seventeen Super Eagles took part in Eric Chelle's first training session in Uyo on Tuesday, with Wilfred Ndidi, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru and Taiwo Awoniyi among the seven players still expected before Friday's AFCON 2027 qualifier against Tanzania.

Nigeria host the Taifa Stars at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium on Friday 13 November at 17:00 WAT, then travel for the return leg four days later. The Super Eagles are second in Group L on three points, after a 2-1 win over Madagascar in Uyo and a 3-0 defeat in Guinea-Bissau.

Ten players were in camp by Tuesday morning and seven more joined later in the day, Naija News reported, after flight scheduling problems at Victor Attah International Airport held several players up on Monday.

The 17 who started the week

The goalkeepers were all present: Stanley Nwabali, Arthur Okonkwo and Francis Uzoho. In defence, Calvin Bassey, Ola Aina, Semi Ajayi, Bright Osayi-Samuel and Tochukwu Nnadi trained, with Alex Iwobi, Chibuike Nwaiwu and Samson Tijani in midfield.

The forwards on the pitch were Moses Simon, Akor Adams, Benjamin Fredrick, Alhassan Yusuf, Tolu Arokodare and Ademola Lookman.

Seven still to come

Bruno Onyemaechi, Abdullahi Bewene, Ndidi, Dele-Bashiru, Awoniyi, Moses Usor and first-time invitee Mubarak Suleiman were still expected to join. Victor Osimhen is not part of the squad, as Soccernet reported when Chelle named his Tanzania squad.

Analysis: three days is enough, but the spine arrives last

Seventeen players at a first session three days before a qualifier is a healthy start, and most of the back line Chelle is likely to rely on was already working together on Tuesday. Bassey, Aina, Ajayi and Osayi-Samuel give him a settled base, and Nwabali, Okonkwo and Uzoho mean the goalkeeping group was complete from day one.

The gaps are further forward. Ndidi, Dele-Bashiru and Awoniyi are the kind of players a coach builds the middle of the pitch and the attack around, so how quickly they arrive, and in what condition, will shape how much of Chelle's plan can be rehearsed before Friday.

That matters more than usual in this window. Tanzania are already at the finals as co-hosts, which leaves Guinea-Bissau as the side Nigeria are really chasing, and a slow start in Uyo would cost points the Super Eagles cannot easily win back in March.

Chelle's team on Friday will show how much ground the late arrivals have been able to make up in a short week.