The Super Eagles held their first training session today ahead of next Tuesday’s friendly with Algeria in Oran.
The team had their session in Constantine, where their camp is based, with the 18 players that arrived last night.
Among the players that trained under the supervision of Jose Peseiro were Torino full-back Ola Aina, Ajax centre-back Calvin Bassey, Porto left-back Zaidu Sanusi, Cremonese striker Cyriel Dessers and Hoffenheim centre-back Kevin Akpoguma, who has been recalled after a long absence.
Watford goalkeeper Maduka Okoye, who is also back in the squad after some time off, first-time invitee Raphael Onyedika of Club Brugge, as well as France-based trio of Valentine Ozornwafor, Terem Moffi and Moses Simon were also part of the session.
Regular faces Wilfred Ndidi, Kenneth Omeruo, Alex Iwobi, Taiwo Awoniyi, Frank Onyeka and William Troost-Ekong also trained with the squad.
Three players arrived in camp after the training session and therefore could not be part of it. They are Atalanta forward Ademola Lookman, Israel-based goalkeeper Adeleye Adebayo and new invitee Godwin Saviour, based in Portugal.
The only players still being expected as at 11pm tonight are Leicester City forward Kelechi Iheanacho, Omonia Nicosia goalkeeper Francis Uzoho and Rivers United defender Ebube Duru, who was a late call-up.
Nigeria and Algeria have been facing each other since 1973, and they have each won nine of their 21 meetings, only three ending in draws.
Algeria’s victories are actually eight, but a draw in a Russia 2018 World Cup qualifier in November 2017 was later awarded as a win to the North Africans because Nigeria fielded an ineligible Shehu Abdullahi, who was supposed to be serving a suspension.
The two teams have clashed in major matches over the years, including the Africa Cup of Nations finals in Lagos in 1980 and 10 years later in Algiers, with the host nation winning each time.
Algeria won the last two meetings between the two teams, at the 2019 AFCON semi-finals in Egypt and a 2020 friendly in Austria.
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