Skipper Ahmed Musa is leading 16 other players of the Super Eagles to the camp in Abu Dhabi ahead of the team’s campaign at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Cote d’Ivoire.
The others present are Kenneth Omeruo, Moses Simon, Olorunleke Ojo, Alex Iwobi, Semi Ajayi, Ola Aina, Calvin Bassey, Ademola Lookman, Joe Aribo, Frank Onyeka, Bruno Onyemaechi, Chidozie Awaziem, Zaidu Sanusi, Victor Boniface, Raphael Onyedika and Bright Osayi-Samuel
The camp came alive on Wednesday, following the arrival of the players and the coaching crew.
The 30-day AFCON tournament kicks off on January 11 and to end on February 11 in host country Cote D’Ivoire. Nigeria’s opening game is on January 14 against Equatorial Guinea. They will also meet hosts Ivory Coast and Guinea-Bissau in their group matches
A tweet on the Super Eagles official twitter (now “X”) handle, said the 17 players have been welcomed to the training camp by head coach Jose Peseiro, and his crew as preparations for the 2023 AFCON began with the first official training on Wednesday.
“Team captain Musa is among the first to report to camp, and the former Leicester City man has been joined by fellow 2013 AFCON winner Omeruo, Nantes winger Simon, and Enyimba FC goalkeeper Ojo.
“Fulham’s duo of Iwobi and Bassey, as well as West Brom’s Ajayi, Southampton midfielder Aribo, Brentford’s Onyeka, and Nottingham Forest defender Aina have landed from England.
“Portugal-based defenders Awaziem, Onyemaechi of Boavista, and Porto’s Sanusi are also in the camp, as well as Atalanta forward Lookman, Bayer Leverkusen’s Boniface, Club Brugge’s Onyedika and Fenerbahce’s Osayi-Samuel,” it said.
It said still being expected in camp were Napoli striker Victor Osimhen, AC Milan winger Samuel Chukwueze, Leicester City forward Kelechi Iheanacho, and goalkeepers Stanley Nwabili and Francis Uzoho.
William Troost-Ekong and Umar Sadiq were also expected to join the team in the coming hours.
The Super Eagles will have their second official training on Thursday as they intensify preparations ahead of the tournament.
The three-time African champions are hoping to end a 10-year wait for the biggest football prize on the continent.