The Super Eagles camp will open on Wednesday (today) in Abuja with no fewer than 20 players expected in camp for the start of preparation for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations tournament.
The three-time African champions will be camped at the Bolton White Apartments our correspondent learnt. Players based in the United Kingdom are expected to report to camp on January 3.
The players based in the UK are Alex Iwobi, Kelechi Iheanacho, Wilfred Ndidi, Emmanuel Dennis, William Troost-Ekong, Frank Onyeka, Leon Balogun and Joe Aribo.
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Our correspondent also learnt the team will depart for Garoua, Cameroon on January 6, six days before their opening group game against seven-time champions Egypt.
“We hope to have the players in before the end of Wednesday so that intense preparation can begin in earnest for the tournament,” a team official told The PUNCH.
“We have less than one week to train in Nigeria before we travel to Garoua, where we will be based.
Nigeria has been drawn in Group B alongside Egypt, Sudan and Guinea-Bissau.
The Eagles will commence their campaign against the Pharaohs on January 11 at the Roumde Adjia Stadium in Garoua. Four days later, they will face Sudan before squaring up against the Guinea-Bissau on January 19 in Garoua.
Former Nigeria captain Eguavoen, who coached the Eagles to a third-place finish at the 2006 AFCON in Egypt 15 years ago, has selected four goalkeepers, nine defenders, five midfielders and 10 forwards to aim for Nigeria’s fourth AFCON title in Cameroon.
Meanwhile, the Eagles also face an anxious wait to see if star striker Victor Osimhen can be passed fit in time. The Napoli striker is poised to undergo a final medical check-up in Naples on December 31.
The 23-year-old striker has not featured for Napoli since he fractured his cheekbone in the Partenopei’s 3-2 loss to Inter Milan at San Siro last month.
Osimhen scored nine goals in 14 games before his injury for Napoli and he was also the top scorer during the AFCON qualifying series, notching up five goals. (Punch)
