AFCON: Super Eagles Camp Bubbles As UK Based Eagles Jet In Today
Barring any last minutes hitches, Super Eagles are expected to fly out to Garoua on Wednesday evening
David Meshioye
All invited UK-based Super Eagles stars are expected to hit the team's Abuja camp later today (Monday) in preparation for the forthcoming African Cup of Nations in Cameroon, 234sportsng.com can report.
Expectedly, the arrival of Wilfred Ndidi and Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City), Alex Iwobi (Everton), Semi Ajayi (West Brom), William Troost-Ekong (Watford), Frank Onyeka (Brentford), and Joe Aribo (Glasgow Rangers) will see the camp come alive after coach Austin Eguavoen opened the camp with 7 players on Friday.
The UK-based stars had their resumption dates extended by NFF chieftains following requests by their clubs due to UK busy schedules. It is however unsure if the players will secure early bookings to Nigeria as most international carriers continue to witness flight cancellation daily owing to growing Covid-19 Omicron variant cases.
Barring any last minutes hitches, Super Eagles are expected to fly out to Garoua on Wednesday evening on a Chattered flight.
The team is expected to complete its training schedule on Wednesday morning with all invited players expected to be in camp before heading to Cameroon later in the evening.
But with the trio of Victor Osimhen, Bonaventure Dennis and Leon Balogun completely ruled out of the competition, Nigeria faces a daunting task of making any appreciable impact in the tournament given the pedigree of other top contenders like host Cameroon, defending champions Algeria, Egypt, and Senegal.
The arrival of Sparta Rotterdam keeper, Maduka Okoye swelled the number of players in camp to 13 on Sunday night.
The 13 players sweating it out at Eagles nest as at press time are Francis Uzoho, Daniel Akpeyi, John Noble, Maduka Okoye, Moses Simon, Sadiq Umar, Chidozie Awaziem, Zaidi Sanusi, Peter Olayinka, Olisa Ndah, Taiwo Awoniyi, Chidera Ejuke, and Henry Onyekuru
While the Super Eagles are not expected in Cameroon to make up the numbers, the absence of key players has further pushed Nigeria down the pecking order of potential winners of this year's competition.
It remains to be seen how coach Austin Eguavoen intends to raise a formidable squad barely seven days to kick off.
