By Nurudeen Obalola
There are 22 players in the Super Eagles camp in Abidjan, including Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman, Wilfred Ndidi and Alex Iwobi, as they get set for Thursday’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Benin Republic in the Ivorian city.
Only Spain-based striker Sadiq Umar was being expected on Tuesday evening ahead of the Nigerian side’s first training session at the Stade Felix Houphouet-Boigny.
“We have 22 players, with only one person to join the team in the early hours of Wednesday. It has been a particularly great atmosphere here in Abidjan, and we are all very positive going into the first training session ahead of the match,” coach Austin Eguavoen told thenff.com on Tuesday.
The first set of eight Super Eagles players arrived in Abidjan on Monday evening, Moses Simon, Samuel Chukwueze and Frank Onyeka, joined by Amas Obasogie
Raphael Onyedika, Bruno Onyemaechi,
Gabriel Osho and Fisayo Dele-Bashiru.
Wilfred Ndidi, Kelechi Iheanacho and Maduka Okoye arrived in camp on Tuesday morning to take the number of players in Abidjan to 11.
The bulk of the squad landed in Abidjan later on Tuesday, led by captain William Troost-Ekong, reigning Africa Player of the Year Victor Osimhen and his likely successor Ademola Lookman.
Also arriving were defenders Bright Osayi-Samuel, Ola Aina, Victor Collins and Calvin Bassey, midfielders Alex Iwobi and Alhassan Yusuf, and Germany-based forward Victor Boniface, with South Africa-based goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali joining them shortly afterwards.
With 10 points from four matches, and a goal difference of plus seven, the Super Eagles are on top of Group D, four points clear of second-placed Benin Republic with two round of fixtures to go.
A draw on Thursday or against Rwanda on Monday in Uyo is enough for the three-time African champions to secure one of the two tickets in the group.
