SUPER Eagles players have been arriving in trickles at their Uyo camp since it opened on Friday ahead of the two crucial 2026 World Cup qualifiers against South Africa and Benin Republic.
Although the Director of Media and Communications of the Nigeria Football Federation, Ademola Olajire, said the team’s camp opens on Monday, our correspondent gathered that players started arriving at the team’s camp on Friday, as well as head coach Finidi George and his assistants.
According to sources in Uyo, the players in camp as of Saturday are Nigeria Premier Football League trio Sodiq Ismail, Kenneth Igboke (who was called up to replace injured Victor Osimhen), and Enyimba goalkeeper Ojo Olorunleke.
Others include Ibrahim Olawoyin, who replaced Bayer Leverkusen’s Nathan Tella; Chippa United goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali; Tanzania-based Benjamin Tanimu; Wilfred Ndidi, who has been in the country for a while; and Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, who also arrived Saturday evening.
AC Milan forward Samuel Chukwueze also arrived in camp on Saturday, despite concerns over his fitness. The 24-year-old picked up an injury during the Rossoneri’s Serie A fixture against Cagliari on May 11 and subsequently missed Milan’s last two Serie A matches against Torino and Salernitana.
However, the team haven’t held any training sessions at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium.
Friday, head coach Finidi George released a 23-man list for his first real test in charge of the team following his unveiling by the NFF as the substantive coach of the team earlier this month.
Nigeria will face South Africa at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo on Friday, June 7, before travelling to Ivory Coast to face Benin Republic on Monday, June 10.
The Eagles are third in Group C of the 2026 World Cup CAF qualifiers with two points from two matches and need to win both games to get their campaign back on track.
