AFCON qualifiers: 20 players arrive camp as Eagles hold first training ahead of Libya clash

About 20 Super Eagles players have arrived in camp for the forthcoming qualifying games against Libya ahead of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

Nigeria face the Mediterranean Knights in a double-header encounter, with the AFCON 2023 finalists hosting the North Africans first before a trip to Benghazi four days later.

The Uyo base of the Nigerian national team opened on Monday, with goalkeepers Amas Obasogie and Stanley Nwabali the first to arrive.

The duo were joined by eight more players in the early hours of Tuesday, with Victor Boniface, the on-form Bayer Leverkusen striker, leading a group that includes Wilfred Ndidi, Frank Onyeka, Benjamin Tanimu, Raphael Onyedika and Samuel Chukwueze to the team’s base.

Ademola Lookman, tipped as frontrunner for the African player of the year award following scintillating displays for club and country this year, also arrived later in the day, and the Atalanta winger was joined by William Troost-Ekong, the team captain, Maduka Okoye, and Moses Simon.

Sevilla-based duo of Kelechi Iheanacho and Chidera Ejuke, and wingback Bright Osayi-Samuel are the only players expected to complete the party.

The Super Eagles players also held their first training session on Tuesday evening.

Nigeria currently tops Group D with four points from two matches, one point ahead of second-placed Benin Republic.

Interim coach Austin Eguavoen will be joined by his assistants Daniel Ogunmodede and Fidelis Ilechukwu as the Super Eagles face Libya at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo on October 11 at 5pm.