AFCON 2021: Super Eagles Camp Bubbles as 23 Players Hit Camp

AFCON 2021: Super Eagles Camp Bubbles as 23 Players Hit Camp

Chukwu Ikechukwu
updated at April 12, 2023 at 7:53 PM
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Kelechi Iheanacho logo
K. Iheanacho
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  • Leicester City striker Kelechi Iheanacho is the latest Super Eagles player to arrive at the team’s camp in Abuja
  • Five more players are still expected to join the team in Abuja before they travel for the AFCON in Cameroon
  • The Super Eagles is billed to leave for Garoua, Cameroon on January 5, six days before their opening game

Nigeria’s preparation to this month’s African Cup of Nations is hitting top gear as Kelechi Iheanacho is the latest player to hit the Super Eagles training camp in Abuja.

AFCON 2021: Super Eagles camp bubbles as 23 players hit camp
The Super Eagles are currently camped in Abuja in preparation for the AFCON. Photo by Javier Soriano Source: Getty Images
Source: Getty Images

Iheanacho linked up with the team on Tuesday morning, January 4, making the total number of players in camp rise to 23 according to the Media officer of the team Babafemi Raji.

The Leicester City forward linked up with the likes of fellow club mate Wilfred Ndidi, Kenneth Omeruo, William Troost-Ekong, Semi-Ajayi, Ola Aina, Alex Iwobi, Kelechi Nwakali and Frank Onyeka who all joined up with the squad earlier in the day.

Other players already in camp include captain Ahmed Musa, Taiwo Awoniyi, Sadiq Umar, Maduka Okoye, Peter Olayinka, John Noble, Henry Onyekuru and Moses Simon.

Zaidu Sanusi, Francis Uzoho, Chidozie Awaziem, Chidera Ejuke, Daniel Akpeyi, and Olisa Ndah completes the list of 23 in the Super Eagles camp.

Players still expected to hit the Super Eagles training base in Abuja include Rangers midfielder Joe Aribo, Samuel Chukwueze, Jamilu Collins, Tyrone Ebuehi and Odion Ighalo.

The Sports Bay reports Interim Head coach Austin Eguavoen who led Nigeria to a third place finish at the 2006 AFCON in Egypt 15 years ago trained with just 14 players on Monday evening as the technical team fine-tunes strategies and team tactics going into the tournament.

Nigeria is expected to leave for Garoua, Cameroon on Wednesday, January 5, just six days before the country’s opening fixture against the Pharoahs of Egypt.

The Super Eagles had been grouped alongside the Pharoahs of Egypt, Sudan and Guinea Bissau in group D of the tournament which kicksoff on January 9.

Nigeria will be hoping to win its fourth continental trophy after successes in 1980, 1994 and 2003.

Eguavoen discloses how Watford threatened Emmanuel Dennis to miss AFCON for Nigeria

Earlier Sportsbrief had reported Augustine Eguavoen who is Super Eagles interim coach has explained that Premier League side Watford actually threatened striker Emmanuel Dennis for him to miss the 2021 AFCON.

The 2021 African Cup of Nations will be starting in Cameroon on January 9 and the Super Eagles of Nigeria are currently in Abuja preparing for the tournament with the aim of winning it.

Emmanuel Dennis was among the players invited for the tournament by the Super Eagles coaching crew and NFF, but the striker was later withdrawn from the team.

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Chukwu Ikechukwu
Chukwu Ikechukwu Godwin is a journalist with over 9 years of experience in the Nigerian media industry. He has worked both in Radio (Today FM, Rhythm FM, Wish FM) and Television (Silverbird TV) as a Sports Analyst..
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