PARIS OLYMPIC GAMES
The Nigerian national football team, the Super Eagles, has arrived in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, ahead of their crucial Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match against neighbouring Benin Republic on Thursday.
Coach Augustine Eguavoen led the team in its first training session on Tuesday at the Stade Felix Houphouet-Boigny, a familiar venue where they achieved success in the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations.
Twenty-two players reported for duty, with only Spain-based forward Sadiq Umar expected to join the team on Wednesday.
The squad includes Captain William Ekong, Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman, and Kelechi Iheanacho, among others. Goalkeeper Maduka Okoye, midfielder Wilfred Ndidi and forward Moses Simon were among the early arrivals.
Coach Eguavoen expressed satisfaction with the team’s preparation, saying, “We have 22 players, with only one person to join the team in the early hours of Wednesday. It has been a particularly great atmosphere here in Abidjan, and we are all very positive going into the first training session ahead of the match.”
The Super Eagles are top of Group D with 10 points from four matches, having conceded no goals and scored seven. They aim to secure a ticket to the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco with a win or draw against Benin Republic.
The Stade Felix Houphouet-Boigny holds fond memories for the Super Eagles, having defeated Guinea-Bissau, Cameroon, and Angola in the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations.
Captain William Ekong emphasized the team’s focus on the positive results achieved at the venue, saying, “The stadium is a familiar one for us, and we have good memories from the AFCON.
“We will rather focus on the positive results we have taken away from here and work hard for another good day in the office on Thursday.”
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has appointed Senegalese official Issa Sy as the referee for Thursday’s encounter.
Sy previously officiated the Super Eagles’ quarterfinal match against Angola in the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations.
The Super Eagles need only one point from Thursday’s clash to secure a ticket to the 35th Africa Cup of Nations, scheduled for Morocco from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026.
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