Osayi-Samuel expected today as 22 Eagles arrive camp for Ghana, Mali friendlies

Fenerbahce defender, Bright Osayi-Samuel, is the only player being expected at the Super Eagles camp in Marrakech, Morocco on Wednesday in preparation for the international friendly matches against Ghana and Mali.

As at Wednesday lunchtime, 22 of the 23 players expected had arrived in Morocco’s fourth-largest city, with defenders, Gabriel Osho and Tyronne Ebuehi as well as forwards, Victor Osimhen and Taiwo Awoniyi the four knocked out by injury.

At the team’s Adam Park Hotel in Marrakech are goalkeepers, Francis Uzoho, Stanley Nwabali and Olorunleke Ojo as well as defenders, Chidozie Awaziem, Calvin Bassey, Semi Ajayi, Jamilu Collins, Bruno Onyemaechi and Benjamin Tanimo.

Others are midfielders, Alex Iwobi, Raphael Onyedika, Frank Onyeka, Wilfred Ndidi, Fisayo Bashiru and Alhassan Yusuf alongside forwards, Kelechi Iheanacho, Moses Simon, Nathan Tella, Cyriel Dessers, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, Sadiq Umar and Ademola Lookman.

Only Turkey-based defender, Bright Osayi-Samuel is being expected as the Super Eagles trade tackles against the Black Stars of Ghana on Friday, 22nd March.

The African vice champions will also take on the Les Aigles of Mali at the same Grand Stade de Marrakech on Tuesday, 26th March.

Meanwhile, Super Eagles interim coach, Finidi George has promised that they will take the international friendly matches against Ghana and Mali seriously because they want to make Nigerians proud.

Finidi said this in an interview with the Super Eagles media officer, Babafemi Raji even as the team is preparing for the two friendly games scheduled to take place in Marrakech, Morocco.

Nigeria will go all out to exact vengeance on Ghana because when they met in March 2022 in a two-legged play-off for a place at the FIFA World Cup in Qatar, the Black Stars won on the away-goal rule after a 1-1 aggregate.

The Super Eagles will also use the two friendly matches to prepare for their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers which will resume in June 2024.