Afcon 2023: Super Eagles UAE camp, Lookman, Iwobi, and others are early birds

The Super Eagles will begin their final preparation for the Cote d’Ivoire 2024 Africa Cup of Nations in Abu Dhabi, UAE on Tuesday.

Skipper Ahmed Musa, Moses Simon, Kenneth Omeruo, and Enyimba goalkeeper, Olorunleke Ojo, were among the Super Eagles delegates who departed for Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Tuesday.

Musa, Omeruo, and Moses were among Europe-based players who returned to Nigeria for the Christmas and New Year celebrations. They joined the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) team, which departed Nigeria for UAE via Cairo aboard an EgyptAir flight.

The 12-man team are expected to be joined by Coach Jose Peseiro and the Europe-based players on Wednesday ahead of Thursday’s first training session in the Middle East.

Alex Iwobi and his Fulham teammate, Calvin Bassey, as well as the injured Leicester duo, Kelechi Iheanacho and Wilfred Ndidi, were expected to arrive in the camp Tuesday night.

Atalanta forward Ademola Lookman and his England-based Super Eagles teammates, Ola Aina and Joe Aribo arrived in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates on Tuesday.

Lookman, who was formerly based in England, is among the eight debutants listed by coach Jose Peseiro, and he linked up with the trio as the early birds in the Eagles camp, which opened on Tuesday.

The Nigeria Football Federation had announced that all 25 players would depart from their different bases on Tuesday for the training camp that will last until Tuesday, January 9.

The team will fly back to Lagos on January 9, and then fly to Abidjan on Wednesday, January 10 ahead of their opening match against Equatorial Guinea on Sunday, January 14. Nigeria will face hosts Ivory Coast four days later, before their final group game against Guinea Bissau on January 22.

Peseiro had dropped his final 25-man list for the tournament last week, naming captain Ahmed Musa and defender Kenneth Omeruo, who were both part of Nigeria’s last triumph in 2013 as part of his squad. Musa and Omeruo are joined by 23 other players, which have eight debutants.

Some changes are however likely to be made before the deadline for submission of the final list to CAF on Wednesday, as some members of the 25-man squad including Kelechi Iheanacho, and Wilfred Nididi are said to be injured.