AFCON 2025: 15 Super Eagles hold first training in Cairo

• Ndidi, Adams, Alebiosu, four others  swell camp to 22
• Team  off to Fés on Thursday

The Super Eagles have  commenced  their preparations for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Cairo, holding their first training session yesterday evening at the Cairo International Stadium.

Paul Onuachu’s arrival yesterday  increased the number of players in camp to 15, as head coach Eric Chelle and his technical crew begin fine-tuning the squad ahead of a pre-tournament friendly against Egypt tonight.

Several key players, including Stanley Nwabali, Ademola Lookman, Alex Iwobi, Calvin Bassey and Francis Uzoho, took part in the session, while Wilfred Ndidi, Bruno Onyemaechi, Cyril Dessers, Akor Adams , Chidera Ejuke,  Raphael Onyedika and Ryan Alebiosu later arrived the team’s  Renaissance Hotels ‘ camp.

In a related development,  the Super Eagles will depart Cairo for the Moroccan city of Fés aboard a chartered flight on Thursday.

Nigeria’s campaign for a fourth continental crown (following triumphs in 1980, 1994 and 2013), is already themed NAIJA 4 THE WIN, and rolls off the ground on Tuesday, 23rd December with a clash against Tanzania’s Taifa Stars, in a repeat of the opening match of the 1980 finals that Nigeria hosted and won.

The Eagles will then clash with 2004 hosts and winners Tunisia on Saturday, 27^th  December, before their final Group C encounter against Uganda’s Cranes on Tuesday, 30th December. All of Nigeria’s group phase matches hold at the Complexe Sportif de Fés.

The Pharaohs, who are the only country to have achieved three consecutive triumphs (2006-2010), have to negotiate things with 1996 hosts and winners South Africa, as well as Angola and Zimbabwe in Group B. Their matches will take place at the Stade d’Agadir in the city of Agadir.

SUPER EAGLES IN CAIRO

Francis Uzoho ; Stanley Nwabali; Calvin Bassey; Fisayo Dele-Bashiru; Ebenezer Akinsanmiro; Amas Obasogie; Semi Ajayi; Ademola Lookman; Bright Osayi-Samuel; Igho Ogbu ; Tochukwu Nnadi; Zaidu Sanusi; Paul Onuachu; Frank Oyekan; Alex Iwobi , Wilfred Ndidi, Bruno Onyemaechi, Cyril Dessers, Akor Adams , Chidera Ejuke; Raphael Onyedika and Ryan Alebiosu.