Super Eagles early arrivals are checking into Uyo, and the first faces in camp are some of the most familiar ones. Ten players have already reported ahead of Friday’s AFCON 2027 qualifier against Tanzania, with Alex Iwobi, Calvin Bassey and Moses Simon leading the early group as Eric Chelle’s preparations finally gather pace.
Chelle and his technical crew touched down in Uyo on Monday, and the players have been following them through Victor Attah International Airport since then. The squad is based at the Four Points by Sheraton in Ikot-Ekpene, the team’s regular home-match base, according to Legit, which first reported the list of arrivals on Tuesday afternoon.
Super Eagles early arrivals: The 10 players already in Uyo
The early group is spread across five countries. Six of the 10 are based in England: goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo, defenders Calvin Bassey, Semi Ajayi and Ola Aina, midfielder Alex Iwobi and forward Benjamin Fredrick. Striker Akor Adams flew in from Italy, Alhassan Yusuf made the trip from the United States, Moses Simon joined from France and goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali arrived from South Africa.
Iwobi and Simon bring the most experience of the group. Legit describes the pair as the camp’s centurions, and their presence matters for a squad that has had a disrupted build-up. The camp opened on Sunday, but flight delays meant Monday’s arrivals were thinner than planned, and the first training session had to be moved.
Ajayi reports despite Arsenal scare
Semi Ajayi’s presence is a small relief for Chelle. The Hull City defender was substituted in the 69th minute of Saturday’s 1-0 defeat at Arsenal, holding his left leg, and there were early fears he could miss the double-header. Hull boss Sergej Jakirovic has since said it was only cramp, and Ajayi travelled to Uyo and reported for duty as planned. The all-clear on Ajayi was confirmed earlier this week.
What happens next in Uyo
The opening training session, originally planned for earlier on Tuesday, has been pushed back to 7pm, according to The Port City News, after travel delays hit several players. All invited players are expected to have arrived and settled in before the evening session at the practice pitch of the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium.
Fourteen of Chelle’s 24-man squad are still to arrive, including captain Wilfred Ndidi, Ademola Lookman, Tolu Arokodare and Taiwo Awoniyi. Chelle named his 24-man squad on Saturday without Victor Osimhen, who is out after knee surgery, and without Kelechi Iheanacho, whose 17 goals for Bursaspor were not enough to earn a recall.
Nigeria host Tanzania at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium on Friday, 13 November, at 5pm, before the return leg in Zanzibar on Tuesday, 17 November. The Super Eagles must win both games after a mixed start to Group L — a 2-1 win over Madagascar followed by a 3-0 defeat to Guinea-Bissau leaves them on three points, while Tanzania have one. With the Taifa Stars already assured of a place at the finals as co-hosts, only one team will join them from the group.
Tanzania are already in town, having landed in Uyo on Tuesday morning, so Friday’s visitors will have had three full days to prepare. For Nigeria, the clock is tighter — but with 10 players in camp and the rest due before the evening session, Chelle can finally get his team on the grass. The camp opened on Sunday after a build-up hit by flight delays.
For more on the qualifiers, check today’s predictions.
Photos: Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0, James Boyes) — collage by SportsBuddy.
