The Nigeria Football Federation has confirmed the arrival of all invited players at their Abidjan camp for the last phase of the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers except for Real Sociedad striker Sadiq Umar, The PUNCH reports.
Aside from the gangling striker, the other 22 players took part in their first training session on Tuesday as the team intensified training for a potentially explosive encounter with neighbours Benin Republic on Thursday at the much-familiar environment of Stade Felix Houphouet-Boigny in Abidjan.
“We have 22 players, with only one person to join the team in the early hours of Wednesday. It has been a particularly nice atmosphere here in Abidjan, and we are all very positive going into the first training session ahead of the match,” interim coach Augustine Eguavoen told thenff.com.
Goalkeeper Amas Obasogie, defenders Gabriel Osho and Bruno Onyemaechi, midfielders Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, Frank Onyeka, and Raphael Onyedika, and forwards Moses Simon and Samuel Chukwueze were the early birds before being joined by Maduka Okoye, Wilfred Ndidi, and Kelechi Iheanacho on Monday.
Eleven players arrived in camp on Tuesday morning. They are Captain William Troost-Ekong, reigning Africa Player of the Year Victor Osimhen, Atalanta forward Ademola Lookman, defenders Bright Osayi-Samuel, Olaoluwa Aina, Victor Collins, Calvin Bassey, midfielders Alex Iwobi, Alhassan Yusuf Abdullahi, and Germany-based forward Victor Boniface. They were later joined in the day by South Africa-based goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali.
Nigeria are top of Group D with 10 points, and a win will guarantee them a spot at the next AFCON in Morocco with a game to spare against Rwanda on Monday.
However, Troost-Ekong admitted that the clash with the Cheetahs will be tough, having defeated the Super Eagles 2-1 at the same venue in a 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying game in June.
He said, “The stadium is a familiar one for us, and we have good memories from the AFCON. We will rather focus on the positive results we have taken away from here and work hard for another good day in the office on Thursday.
“It is not going to be easy because the Beninoise are also chasing a ticket to the final tournament. However, our objective is clear: three points on the night.”
Senegalese official Issa Sy, who was in charge when the Super Eagles defeated Angola 1-0 at the same venue in a quarterfinal match of the Africa Cup of Nations finals, has been selected by CAF as referee for the encounter.
He will be supported by compatriots Djibril Camara (assistant 1), Nouha Bangoura (assistant 2), and El Hadji Amadou Sy (fourth official). Ivorian René Williams Sere will be the commissioner, while Angolan Inacio Manuel Candido will be the referee assessor.