THE Super Eagles began their preparations in Abuja yesterday for their 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Sierra Leone and Sao Tome and Principe.
The Nigerian team will host Sierra Leone at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja on Thursday before proceeding to Marrakech, Morocco to battle Sao Tome and Principe four days later.
Under the guidance of Jose Peseiro, the new head coach, the Eagles held their first training session for the games at the National Stadium, with 24 of the 27 invited players involved.
Captain Ahmed Musa, who missed the friendly matches against Mexico and Ecuador in the United States of America last week, was joined at the Abuja session by goalkeepers Francis Uzoho, Adewale Adeyinka and Adebayo Adeleye as well as defenders Ola Aina, William Troost-Ekong, Zaidu Sanusi, Chidozie Awaziem, Semi Ajayi, Leon Balogun, Sani Faisal and Kenneth Omeruo.
Midfielders Alex Iwobi, Oghenekaro Etebo, Innocent Bonke and Frank Onyeka, and forwards Samuel Chukwueze, Moses Simon, Victor Osimhen, Cyriel Dessers, Ademola Lookman, Sadiq Umar, Terem Moffi and Emmanuel Dennis also took part in the session.
Only defenders Abdullahi Shehu and Calvin Bassey, and midfielder Joe Aribo were being expected in camp as at the time of this report.
Before the training session, which began around 5.30pm, Peseiro met with invited players who were unable to make it to the United States for the friendlies, including Musa, Sanusi, Balogun, Etebo, Chukwueze, Umar and Lookman.
The Portuguese coach also met with defender Omeruo, midfielder Onyeka and forward Osimhen, as well as Israel-based goalkeeper Adeleye, who were not invited to the friendlies in America but have been called for the AFCON qualifiers.
Meanwhile, the Confederation of African Football has appointed Ivorian officials to take charge of Thursday’s encounter in Abuja, with Ibrahim Kalilou Traore as referee. His compatriots Adou Desire N’goh, Nouhou Ouattara and Kouassi Francois Biro will serve as assistant referee 1, assistant referee 2 and fourth official respectively.
Moukaila Nassam Adam from Ghana will be match commissioner while Serge Paulin Samuel from Burkina Faso will serve as referee assessor.
