Journalism in the service of society

AFCON: Super Eagles camp grows to 23 as England-based players arrive

NINE players landed in the Super Eagles camp in Abuja between Monday night and Tuesday morning as the preparation for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations intensified.

Six of the new arrivals came in from England, five of them Premier League players.

The latest players in camp as at Tuesday morning include Leicester City’s Wilfred Ndidi and KelechiIheanacho, Watford’s William Troost-Ekong, Everton’s Alex Iwobi and Brentford’s Frank Onyeka.

Semi Ajayi, who plays for Championship side West Brom and was invited as replacement for the injured Leon Balogun, is also in the Abuja camp.

Spain-based pair Kenneth Omeruo and Kelechi Nwakali as well as Torino defender Ola Aina completed the latest arrivals.

The nine players brought up the number of Super Eagles in the Abuja training base to 23.

Six players are still being expected by interim head coach Austin Eguavoen and his crew, who supervised a training session of 14 players at the Moshood Abiola Stadium on Monday.

Those yet to arrive include Villarreal’s Samuel Chukwueze, who bagged an assist in his side’s 5-0 LaLiga win over Levante on Monday night, Germany-based full-back Jamilu Collins, and Saudi Arabia-based striker Odion Ighalo, whose club are reportedly trying to prevent him from featuring in the tournament.

Venezia defender Tyrone Ebuehi and Rangers midfielder Joe Aribo are also still being expected.

The 2021 AFCON kicks off in Yaounde on Sunday, and will be held in five Cameroonian cities until 6 February.

The Super Eagles will begin their quest for a fourth trophy with a Group D encounter against Egypt next Tuesday in Garoua, where they will also face Guinea Bissau and Sudan.

Update! Wilfried Ndidi, Kenneth Omeruo, William Troost-Ekong, Semi Ajayi, Ola Aina, Alex Iwobi, Kelechi Nwakali and Frank Onyeka are in camp already. 22 players in camp now.

SUPER EAGLES PLAYERS IN CAMP

Goalkeepers: Francis Uzoho (AC Omonia, Cyprus); John Noble (Enyimba FC); Daniel Akpeyi (Kaizer Chiefs, South Africa); Maduka Okoye (Sparta Rotterdam, The Netherlands)

Defenders: Chidozie Awaziem (Alanyaspor FC, Turkey); Kenneth Omeruo (CD Leganes, Spain); Oluwasemilogo Ajayi (West Bromwich Albion, England); William Ekong (Watford FC, England); Olaoluwa Aina (Torino FC, Italy); Zaidu Sanusi (FC Porto, Portugal); Olisa Ndah (Orlando Pirates, South Africa)

Midfielders: Frank Onyeka (Brentford FC, England); Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England); Chidera Ejuke (CSKA Moscow, Russia); Kelechi Nwakali (SD Huesca, Spain)

Forwards: Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City), Ahmed Musa (Fatih Karagumruk, Turkey); Henry Onyekuru (Olympiacos FC, Greece); Moses Simon (FC Nantes, France); Sadiq Umar (UD Almeria, Spain); Taiwo Awoniyi (Union Berlin, Germany); Alex Iwobi (Everton FC, England); Peter Olayinka (SK Slavia Praha, Czech Republic)

EXPECTED
Jamilu Collins (SC Padeborn 07, Germany); Tyrone Ebuehi (Venezia FC, Italy); Joseph Ayodele-Aribo (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland); Samuel Chukwueze (Villarreal FC, Spain); Odion Jude Ighalo (Al-Shabab Riyadh, Saudi Arabia)

Comments are closed.

Naija Times