AC Milan winger, Samuel Chukwueze, and Chippa United’s goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali have joined the Super Eagles camp in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast, as reported by The PUNCH.
Their arrival increases the number of players in camp to 19. The team is currently in Abu Dhabi for a one-week training camp until next Tuesday. They are expected to head to Lagos on the same day before departing for Abidjan on Wednesday, January 10.
Babafemi Raji, the team’s media officer, mentioned that the team initiated preparations for the AFCON tournament on Wednesday evening. Raji also noted that the camp is currently closed, and information will be limited until January 6 as they intensify preparations for a successful AFCON campaign.
Players expected to join camp include William Troost-Ekong, Victor Osimhen, Francis Uzoho, Umar Sadiq, Kelechi Iheanacho, and Alhassan Yusuf.
The players currently in camp are goalkeepers Olorunleke Ojo and Stanley Nwabali, defenders Kenneth Omeruo, Calvin Bassey, Semi Ajayi, Zaidu Sanusi, Bruno Onyemachi, Chidozie Awaziem, Ola Aina, and Bright Osayi-Samuel.
Midfielders present in Abu Dhabi are Alex Iwobi, Frank Onyeka, Raphael Onyedika, and Joe Aribo. The forwards in camp, as of the latest report, are Ahmed Musa, Moses Simon, Ademola Lookman, Samuel Chukuwze, and Victor Boniface.
The Super Eagles are set to engage in two pre-tournament friendlies against Burkina Faso and Cape Verde as part of their preparations for the 2023 AFCON. Nigeria, with AFCON victories in 1980, 1994, and 2013, aims to clinch a fourth title in Ivory Coast. They find themselves in Group A alongside the hosts, Equatorial Guinea, and Guinea Bissau. Their first match is against Equatorial Guinea on January 14, followed by games against Ivory Coast on January 18 and Guinea Bissau on January 22.