The Super Eagles had their first full training session last night in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, as they gear up for tomorrow’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Benin Republic.
Out of the 23 invited players, 22 were present for the session, with the team scheduled to hold their final practice at Houphouet Boigny Stadium today.
Delays Impact Training Plans
The late arrival of players disrupted the Super Eagles’ original training schedule. Initially, only 11 players were present in camp, delaying their training plans until the rest of the squad arrived yesterday afternoon.
This setback concerned team officials, who intended to hold multiple practice sessions.
According to The Guardian, an anonymous official reveals that the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) had arranged direct flights to Abidjan to maximize training time, but the delayed arrivals hindered their preparation.
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Full Squad Arrives for Evening Training
Last night’s session included a nearly complete squad, with notable players such as Captain William Ekong, Victor Osimhen, Alex Iwobi, and Wilfred Ndidi joining.
The team had gathered all but one of the invited players, ensuring a strong lineup for tomorrow’s clash. Interim Manager Austin Eguavoen, along with the technical crew, conducted the training to prepare the team for the high-stakes encounter.
Match Expectations and Group D Dynamics
Nigeria leads Group D with 10 points and requires just a draw to qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco. However, Benin Republic, the Cheetahs, must win both tomorrow’s match and their final qualifier against Libya to advance.
Following tomorrow’s game, the Super Eagles will head back to Uyo for their concluding qualifier against Rwanda, hoping to close out the series with momentum heading into the championship.
