Coach Eric Chelle and his players will begin the final phase of their preparation for the eight African Nations Championship in Zanzibar, today, ahead of the championship, which kicks off on August 2.

The Nigerian delegation to the championship arrived in Zanzibar this morning aboard an Ethiopian Airline aircraft after training for several weeks at the Remo Stars Sports Institute in Ikenne-Remo, Ogun State.

According to the team’s training schedule, the final phase of the preparation starts today and ends on July 31 before the team moves into their official accommodation on the island.

In the programme are two friendly games against Zanzibar on July 28 and July 31 to tune up the squad ahead of their opening game against Senegal.

Nigeria, also bronze medallists in 2014, are in Group D of the 19-team tournament, alongside Cup holders Senegal, Sudan and Congo. The Super Eagles will play their first two matches of the competition, against Senegal and Sudan, at the Amman Stadium on the island of Zanzibar, before taking on Congo at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam.

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) on Wednesday released the list of 23 players chosen by Chelle for the competition meant for only players plying their trade in their home leagues.

The squad is dominated by players from the Nigerian Premier Football League (NPFL) champions, Remo Stars, including Captain Junior Harrison Nduka and Sikiru Alimi.

Other players in the squad are goalkeepers Henry Ozoemena Ani (Enyimba FC); Nurudeen Badmus (Kwara United); Lawal Mustapha (Shooting Stars). The defenders are Sodiq Ismaila (Remo Stars); Bankole Afeez (Kwara United); Taiwo Abdulrafiu (Rivers United); Uzondu Harrison (Ikorodu City); Ngengen Leonard (Ikorodu City); and Steven Mayo Egbe (Rivers United).

The midfielders are Adedayo Olamilekan (Remo Stars); Hadi Haruna (Remo Stars); Otaniyi Taofik (Rivers United); Akanni Qudus (Remo Stars); Michael Tochukwu (Remo Stars); and Alex Oyowah (Remo Stars), while the attackers in the team are Anas Yusuf (Nasarawa United); Shola Adelani (Ikorodu City); Temitope Vincent (Plateau United); Ijoma Anthony (Abia Warriors); Godwin Obaje (Rangers International); and Jabbar Malik (Remo Stars).

The Eighth African Nations Championship will be co-hosted by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda from August 2 to 30.