AFCON QUALIFIER: Nineteen players in Super Eagles camp for Sierra Leone match

The Super Eagles camp for the June 18 Afcon qualifier against Sierra-Leone in Monrovia is almost full. As at the last count, nineteen players are already in the Lagos camp.

Expected to joined the team are Victor Osimhen, the prolific Napoli forward and the first African player to claim Serie A’s top scorer award, is still pending.

Villarreal’s Samuel Chukwueze, Porto’s full-back Zaidu Sanusi, and team captain Ahmed Musa.

Apart from the four mentioned above, the Super Eagles camp in Lagos is lively as 19 players have made their way to the training grounds.

The camp opened its doors on Sunday, and the first batch of stars wasted no time in strutting their stuff.

Vice-captain William Troost-Ekong led the charge alongside Atalanta’s free-scoring forward, Ademola Lookman. 

Southampton’s Joe Aribo and Everton’s Alex Iwobi joined the ranks too. The defensive line was bolstered by the arrival of Ajax’s Calvin Bassey and West Brom’s Semi Ajayi. Not to be outdone, Hoffenheim’s Kevin Akpoguma has also made his presence felt.

As the hours passed, more players trickled into the camp, adding to the growing anticipation.

Ebube Duru, along with goalkeepers Victor Sochima and Olorunleke Ojo, arrived for national team duty after Enyimba’s grueling Championship playoff match with Rivers United.

Ojo, who stood tall between the posts for Enyimba, played a pivotal role as they clinched a 1-1 draw against Rivers United, who had Duru and Sochima in their starting lineup. The draw secured Enyimba’s title as the 2023 NPFL champions.

Former Golden Eaglets star Divine Nwachukwu, among the four home-based players called up, has also arrived with a sense of purpose.

The camp also saw the arrival of notable names such as Kenneth Omeruo, a key figure in the Super Eagles’ triumphant 2013 African campaign. Leicester City’s dynamic duo, Wilfred Ndidi, and Kelechi Iheanacho, graced the training grounds alongside Nottingham Forest’s Taiwo Awoniyi.

Adding to the impressive roster are Nantes’ Moses Simon, Adebayo Adeleye, who plies his trade in Israel, Brentford’s Frank Onyeka, and Fenerbahce’s Bright Osayi-Samuel, fresh off his Turkish Cup victory.

Nigeria will trade tackles with Sierra Leone on June 18 in Monrovia with a win sufficient to secure a place in next year’s Africa Cup of Nations.

ALL THE INVITED PLAYERS:

Goalkeepers: Adebayo Adeleye (Hapoel Jerusalem, Israel); Victor Sochima (Rivers United); Olorunleke Ojo (Enyimba FC)

Defenders: William Ekong (Watford FC, England); Calvin Bassey (Ajax FC, The Netherlands); Kevin Akpoguma (TSG Hoffenheim, Germany); Chidiebube Duru (Rivers United); Oluwasemilogo Ajayi (West Bromwich Albion, England); Kenneth Omeruo (CD Leganes, Spain); Zaidu Sanusi (FC Porto, Portugal); Bright Osayi-Samuel (Fenerbahce FC, Turkey)

Midfielders: Joseph Ayodele-Aribo (Southampton FC, England); Alex Iwobi (Everton FC, England); Divine Nwachukwu (Bendel Insurance); Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England); Frank Onyeka (Brentford FC, England)

Forwards: Moses Simon (Nantes FC, France); Samuel Chukwueze (Villarreal FC, Spain); Ademola Lookman (Atalanta FC, Italy); Victor Osimhen (SSC Napoli, Italy); Taiwo Awoniyi (Nottingham Forest, England); Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City, England); Ahmed Musa (Sivasspor, Turkey)