No fewer than 10 players have reported to the Super Eagles’ camp as preparations begin for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
Gatekeepers News reports that the team’s camp officially opened on Sunday at the Renaissance Hotels in Cairo, with all coaches and backroom staff already in attendance ahead of the continental tournament.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that goalkeeper Francis Uzoho was the first player to arrive, touching down shortly after 2 a.m. local time, signaling the start of full squad mobilisation. Uzoho is one of three goalkeepers named in head coach Eric Chelle’s 28-man squad, marking his return to the national team after more than a year away.
Stanley Nwabali arrived next, followed by Fisayo Dele-Bashiru and Ebenezer Akinsanmiro, bringing the number of players in camp to four.
Six more players — Amas Obasogie, Semi Ajayi, Ademola Lookman, Igho Ogbu, Bright Osayi-Samuel and Tochukwu Nnadi — later joined the camp, increasing the total to 10.
More players are expected to arrive in the coming hours as Nigeria intensifies preparations for the tournament.
NAN also reports that the three-time African champions are scheduled to hold their first training session later this evening. As part of the build-up, the Super Eagles will face the Pharaohs of Egypt in a friendly match on Tuesday at the Cairo International Stadium.
Nigeria will head into the 2025 AFCON hoping to improve on their runners-up finish at the last edition, where they lost 2–1 to hosts Ivory Coast in the final. The Super Eagles are targeting a fourth continental title, having previously lifted the trophy in 1980, 1994 and 2013.
The 2025 AFCON is scheduled to kick off in Morocco on December 21 and run until January 18, 2026.
Meanwhile, Super Eagles first-choice goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali is doubtful for the tournament after sustaining injuries to his ankle and hands.
According to Supersport.com, quoting Chippa United head coach Vusimuzi Vilakazi, the Nigerian goalkeeper may require surgery, which could rule him out of the competition.
“I doubt it. Looking at the state of his injury, I don’t think he will make it,” Vilakazi said. “But when I was talking to him, he was confident that he would recover very soon. Obviously, you will understand because he is a player, he wants to be there at the Cup of Nations finals.
“But the reality is that for now, he is still injured. I also hope for the best that he might find himself there.
“It is an ankle injury, but then also the hand needs an operation because he has been playing with that injured hand for a while now, and he aggravated the injury while he was in Morocco.”
