WITH just days to the kickoff of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco, frustration is growing among Nigerian football fans over the delayed arrival of three key Super Eagles stars—Victor Osimhen, Samuel Chukwueze, and Moses Simon.
News Point Nigeria Sports reports that four days after the Super Eagles opened their training camp in Cairo, Egypt, the trio remain the only players yet to report for national duty, sparking intense debate and criticism across social media platforms.
Nigeria’s AFCON camp officially opened on Sunday at the Renaissance Hotel in Cairo, where 25 players had assembled as of Tuesday morning. The available players underwent two training sessions—on Monday evening and Tuesday morning and later featured in a pre-tournament friendly against Egypt on Tuesday evening.
According to a camp update issued by the Super Eagles’ Media Officer, Promise Efoghe, Osimhen, Simon, and Chukwueze are expected to join the team soon. However, no official explanation was provided for their delayed arrival.
Sources close to the team indicated that both Osimhen, who plays for Galatasaray, and Nantes winger Moses Simon are expected to link up with the squad directly in Morocco rather than Cairo.
The Super Eagles are scheduled to depart Cairo for Fez, Morocco, Nigeria’s tournament base on Thursday via a chartered flight. The team will open its AFCON campaign against Tanzania next Tuesday.
The late arrival of the trio, alongside Paul Onuachu, who eventually joined the camp on Monday has triggered widespread reactions from fans questioning the commitment and discipline of some players.
Reacting to a camp update on X (formerly Twitter), a fan, Seun Durojaiye, wrote, “Thought all players should have arrived by now, considering we would be having a friendly against Egypt today, being Tuesday.”
Another fan asked pointedly, “Is it becoming a pattern for some key players to arrive late?”
Kamil Adegboyega added fuel to the debate by drawing comparisons within the same league: “Osimhen played in Turkey on Saturday, Ndidi played on Sunday in the same league. Ndidi has arrived in camp while Osimhen hasn’t.”
On Instagram, a fan identified as Apex commented, “I thought Chukwueze was on the plane with Iwobi and Bassey.”
Another fan wrote bluntly, “Iwobi and Bassey are in the same club with Chukwueze. Our players need discipline.”
Despite the backlash, some supporters have urged patience and understanding, particularly concerning Osimhen, who has endured a difficult year marked by multiple injuries while representing Nigeria.
A Super Eagles fan account defended the striker, stating, “Victor Osimhen shouldn’t be singled out or blamed. He has suffered several injuries this year while playing for the national team and was sidelined for weeks on several occasions—that’s sacrifice for his country.”
The post further noted that Chukwueze’s delayed arrival should not be isolated, pointing out that Fulham duo Alex Iwobi and Calvin Bassey arrived without him despite featuring together at club level.
“Patience and understanding are key support your players through these challenges,” the fan account appealed.
Nigeria have been drawn in Group C alongside Tunisia, Tanzania, and Uganda. The Super Eagles will face Tanzania’s Taifa Stars on December 23, Tunisia’s Carthage Eagles on December 27, and Uganda’s Cranes on December 30.
Runners-up at the last AFCON after a 2–1 loss to hosts Ivory Coast, Nigeria will be aiming to secure a fourth continental title, having previously won the tournament in 1980, 1994, and 2013.
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has unveiled the NAIJA 4 THE WIN campaign as part of efforts to rally national support behind the team ahead of the tournament.