The Super Eagles’ camp came alive yesterday with the arrival of 23 players at the team’s Uyo base. The players later had their first training session at the training pitch of the Godswill Akpabio Stadium ahead of Friday’s opening Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against the Barea of Madagascar.

The team was initially expected to begin preparations for the game against Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau on Monday, but the players did not arrive until yesterday.

Super Eagles Media Officer, Promise Efoghe, told The Guardian that the Eric Chelle-led technical crew has a three-day training programme, which began yesterday ahead of the opening game on Friday, adding that all the players were notified of the importance of the sessions.

The early arrivals in the camp were Simon Moses, Akor Adams, Taiwo Awoniyi, Isaac James, Emmanuel Fernandez, Benjamin Fredericks, Moses Uzor, George Ilenikhena, Arthur Okonkwo and Alex Iwobi.

Others include Semi Ajayi, Calvin Bassey, Ola Aina, Ademola Lookman, Bright Osayi-Samuel,
Chibuike Nwaiwu, Tolu Arokodare, Bruno Onyemaechi, Raphael Onyedika and Frank Onyeka.

Those who came in later in the evening were Wilfred Ndidi, Samuel Chukwueze and Stanley Nwabali.

He disclosed that 20 players came in yesterday, while three other reported to camp on time for the 5.00 p.m. training session at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium.

After the game against the Barea on Friday, the Super Eagles will fly to Bissau to take on the Wild Dogs in a Day 2 encounter on September 29 before moving to Europe to face Russia in a friendly game at the Nizhny Novgorod Stadium on October 6.