Tag: Super Eagles

Team begins training today ahead of Tuesday’s opener

Three time Afican champions , the Super Eagles of Nigeria, yesterday  arrived their base in Fez ahead of the kick-off  of the 35^th Africa Cup of Nations , Morocco 2025, where they  will be seeking  a long awaited fourth  title.

Dapper in their  green traditional kaftans with flowered embroidery  with  matching caps, the coach Eric Sekou Chelle-led side left  Cairo  yesterday  about mid-day  in a chartered   flight  and  made their way  into Fez  in the evening.

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Their late arrival forced   the cancellation of  their proposed  first training in Fez yesterday  but  they are expected  to begin their preparation  today in Fez which is  regarded  as one of Morocco’s most fascinating imperial cities and a UNESCO World Heritage site.

The  Super Eagles had earlier  spent five days in Cairo for the first phase of their preparation  and  only on Tuesday lost 2-1 to the Pharaohs of Egypt in their only  pre-AFCON friendly match.

The three-time African champions are drawn in Group C with Tanzania, Tunisia and Uganda.

The Super Eagles will face the Taifa Stars of Tanzania in their opening fixture next week Tuesday, before taking on Tunisia’s Carthage Eagles on December 27, and Uganda’s Cranes on December 30.

• Super Eagles land in Morocco today

• By Inioluwa David

Trabzonspor of Turkey striker Paul Onuachu  and FC Nantes defender, Chidozie Awaziem,  believe  the Super Eagles  acquainted  themselves well despite losing 2-1  to the Pharaohs of Egypt in Tuesday’s  international friendly  match at the Cairo  international Stadium  ahead of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations  in Morocco.

Onuachu  who incidentally  made a scoring debut  against  the Pharaohs  in a pre-AFCON friendly in 2019, said the Super  Eagles’  spirited performance  and tactical progression  was  more important than the score line, adding  it was opportunity for the  coach Eric Sekou Chelle-led side to get  set for the continental showpiece.

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“I felt good playing against them, especially knowing I had scored against Egypt in the past,” Onuachu told the NFFTv. “I played with a lot of confidence and focused on my game. Unfortunately, the goal didn’t come this time, but I think both the team and I had a good game.”

Similarly, defender Chidozie Awaziem who captained  and scored the Super Eagles’ solitary goal  in Tuesday’s encounter , equally spoke in the same vein.

“It was a good test though the result wasn’t good, it wasn’t what we wanted,” said Awaziem, who scored the Super Eagles equaliser in a 2-1 loss to Egypt in Cairo. “We dominated the game, we had them sit back and we had so many chances to score.

 “This game was to test our readiness for the AFCON and for the coach to try new players and other tactics so that we prepare good.

 “We will take the positives out of this game and move on to the AFCON.”

Meanwhile, the Super Eagles are scheduled to fly to their AFCON 2025  base in Fès today in a chartered  flight. Nigeria is drawn in Group C, where they will face Tanzania on December 23^rd  with other matches against  Tunisia and Uganda on December 28  and 30 respectively.

Former Super Eagles captain Sunday Oliseh has warned that Nigeria no longer commands the fear and respect it once enjoyed in African football, following the team’s disappointing World Cup qualification campaign.

Speaking ahead of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, Oliseh said Nigeria’s recent struggles have emboldened opponents, who now approach matches against the Super Eagles with confidence rather than caution.

 “Teams are no longer afraid of Nigeria. That fear is gone,” Oliseh said.

He explained that Nigeria’s failure to qualify for the World Cup has significantly altered perceptions across the continent.

 “Opponents are motivated now. They believe Nigeria can be beaten, and that makes games even harder,” he added.

Oliseh warned that the group stage at AFCON could be particularly tricky, as teams will raise their performance levels against Nigeria.

 “Every team will raise their level against Nigeria. That’s the reality now,” he said.

Despite the warning, the former midfielder believes the Super Eagles still possess enough quality to finish top of their group, provided they approach the tournament with seriousness and intensity.

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 “Nigeria still has the players to top the group, but the first game is very important,” he noted.

According to Oliseh, a strong opening result could help restore confidence and reassert Nigeria’s authority at the tournament.

 “A good start can change the narrative and bring belief back,” he said.

He stressed that discipline, focus, and performance — not reputation — will determine success at AFCON.

 “The players must earn respect again through performance, not history,” Oliseh stated.

Oliseh also urged the coaching crew to ensure tactical clarity and mental readiness, warning against complacency.

Osimhen, Simon expected to join mates

The Super Eagles  last night  suffered a  2-1 loss to  Egypt  in their pre-Africa cup of Nations (AFCON)  warm-up match  at the Cairo International Stadium .

Both teams  used the  friendly encounter top ascertain the readiness  of their squad  for the forthcoming   2025 AFCON  which opens  in Morocco on December  21  and they both game a good account  of themselves  with te Pharaohs  running away with  a hard- earned victory in front of their home fans.

While Pharaoh’s Coach Hossam Hassan   rested  Liverpool  star Mohamed Salah and Man City  Omar Marmoush, coach Eric Sekou Chelle  handed  out  first international start to Pisa midfielder Akinsanmiro.

But it was the home side that raced in front in the 28th minute  through  Midfielder Mahmoud Saber  who met  Ahmed ‘Zizo’ Sayed’s cross with a right-footed shot into the empty net.

The Super Eagles  fought back  and were rewarded with  the equalizer in the added time of the first half as defender Chidozie Awaziem headed  home  from very close range following a free kick.

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At the restart, Chelle drafted  some fresh legs as goalkeeper Amas Obasogie replaced  Stanley Nwabali; Bruno Onyemaechi replaced Zaidu Sanusi; Semi Ajayi came  in for Chidozie Awaziem; Cyriel Dessers replaced Ebenezer Akinsanmiro and Ademola Lookman came  in for Raphael Onyedika.

Nevertheless, It was  the Egyptians that netted  the winning goal through Mohammed in the 52nd  minute and they held out despite the Super Eagles; brave fight  in a match  another newly  invited, Salim Fago Lawal  made his debut  as replacement for defender Igoh Ogbu in the 85th minute.

Meanwhile, Super Eagles’ top striker Victor Osimhen as well as  Moses Simon are expected  to fly straight to Morocco to link up with the team after missing out of  the friendly match against Egypt yesterday.

New invitee  Usman Mohammed  and Fulham striker Samuel Chukwueze teamed up with  the rest of the squad yesterday  bring together  26 players  in Cairo.

The Super Eagles, who are drawn in Group C  along with Tanzania, Uganda and Tunisia, will fly out tomorrow from Cairo  in a chattered flight to their AFCON base in Fes.

LIST OF 25 PLAYERS IN SUPER EAGLES’ EGYPT CAMP:

Francis Uzoho, Stanley Nwabali; Fisayo Dele-Bashiru; Akinsanmiro Ebenezer; Amas Obasogie; Semilogo Ajayi; Ademola Lookman; Bright Osayi-Samuel; Igho Ogbu; Tochukwu Nnadi; Zaidu Sanusi;Paul Onuachu

Frank Onyeka; Calvin Bassey; Alex Iwobi; Wilfred Ndidi; Bruno Onyemaechi; Cyril Dessers; Akor Adams; Chidera Ejuke; Raphael Onyedika; Ryan Alebiosu Salim Fago; Chidozie Awaziem, Usman Mohammed and  Samuel Chukwueze.

• Ndidi, Adams, Alebiosu, four others  swell camp to 22
• Team  off to Fés on Thursday

The Super Eagles have  commenced  their preparations for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Cairo, holding their first training session yesterday evening at the Cairo International Stadium.

Paul Onuachu’s arrival yesterday  increased the number of players in camp to 15, as head coach Eric Chelle and his technical crew begin fine-tuning the squad ahead of a pre-tournament friendly against Egypt tonight.

Several key players, including Stanley Nwabali, Ademola Lookman, Alex Iwobi, Calvin Bassey and Francis Uzoho, took part in the session, while Wilfred Ndidi, Bruno Onyemaechi, Cyril Dessers, Akor Adams , Chidera Ejuke,  Raphael Onyedika and Ryan Alebiosu later arrived the team’s  Renaissance Hotels ‘ camp.

In a related development,  the Super Eagles will depart Cairo for the Moroccan city of Fés aboard a chartered flight on Thursday.

Nigeria’s campaign for a fourth continental crown (following triumphs in 1980, 1994 and 2013), is already themed NAIJA 4 THE WIN, and rolls off the ground on Tuesday, 23rd December with a clash against Tanzania’s Taifa Stars, in a repeat of the opening match of the 1980 finals that Nigeria hosted and won.

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The Eagles will then clash with 2004 hosts and winners Tunisia on Saturday, 27^th  December, before their final Group C encounter against Uganda’s Cranes on Tuesday, 30th December. All of Nigeria’s group phase matches hold at the Complexe Sportif de Fés.

The Pharaohs, who are the only country to have achieved three consecutive triumphs (2006-2010), have to negotiate things with 1996 hosts and winners South Africa, as well as Angola and Zimbabwe in Group B. Their matches will take place at the Stade d’Agadir in the city of Agadir.

SUPER EAGLES IN CAIRO

Francis Uzoho ; Stanley Nwabali; Calvin Bassey; Fisayo Dele-Bashiru; Ebenezer Akinsanmiro; Amas Obasogie; Semi Ajayi; Ademola Lookman; Bright Osayi-Samuel; Igho Ogbu ; Tochukwu Nnadi; Zaidu Sanusi; Paul Onuachu; Frank Oyekan; Alex Iwobi , Wilfred Ndidi, Bruno Onyemaechi, Cyril Dessers, Akor Adams , Chidera Ejuke; Raphael Onyedika and Ryan Alebiosu.

Three-time winners Nigeria and seven-time champions Egypt will be at each other’s jugular at the Cairo Stadium tonight, in a friendly match meant to prepare both teams for their campaigns at the 35^th  Africa Cup of Nations finals kicking off in Morocco on Sunday.

Both teams will have the opportunity to test a clutch of newbies, with Nigeria manager Eric Sékou Chelle able to field the likes of goalkeeper Amas Obasogie, defender Ryan Alebiosu, midfielders Usman Muhammed, Tochukwu Nnadi and Ebenezer Akinsanmiro, and forwards Paul Onuachu and Salim Fago Lawal, if he so desires.

Pharaohs’ Coach Hossam Hassan, himself an AFCON legend, scored seven goals as Egypt won the 1998 edition of the championship in Burkina Faso, finishing as joint top scorer with South Africa’s Benni McCarthy, whose team ended up with the silver medals.

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Hassan will most probably weave his game plan for the friendly match and the AFCON tournament itself around Liverpool ace Mohamed Salah, who, despite a hefty trophy shelf, is looking for his first AFCON title. There will also be Manchester City of England’s Omar Marmoush, Al Ahly’s Mohamed El-Shenawy, Mohamed Hany, Yasser Ibrahim, Emam Ashour and Mahmoud Trezeguet.

There are also CAF Champions League holders Pyramids’ Mohamed Hamdy and Mostafa Fathi, and UAE-based Ibrahim Adel, as well as Mostafa Mohamed of FC Nantes in France. 

Chelle is most likely to set his store by goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali, defenders Bright Osayi-Samuel, Semi Ajayi Calvin Bassey and Zaidu Sanusi, midfielders Wilfred Ndidi, Frank Onyeka and Alex Iwobi, and forwards Samuel Chukwueze, Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman.

The match will kick off at 8pm Egypt time (7pm Nigeria time).

Uzoho, Nwabali, Dele-Bashiru, Akinsanmiro are early birds

Nigeria’s Super Eagles have officially commenced preparations for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations with the opening of their training camp in Cairo, Egypt, yesterday.

The camp is situated at the Renaissance Hotels, marking the start of what is expected to be an intensive build-up toward the continental showpiece.

All members of the coaching crew and backroom staff are already in camp, ensuring that administrative, technical, and logistical arrangements are fully in place ahead of the players’ arrival. The early presence of the officials underlines the seriousness of the team’s preparations and the determination to hit the ground running.

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Goalkeeper Francis Uzoho was the first player to report to camp, arriving in the early hours of Sunday morning. The experienced shot-stopper touched down shortly after 2:00 a.m. local time, setting the tone for punctuality and commitment among the squad.

Not long after, Stanley Nwabali became the second player to check in, arriving just minutes after Uzoho. The presence of the two goalkeepers as the earliest arrivals offers the technical crew an immediate opportunity to begin focused work, especially in a department that will be crucial to Nigeria’s AFCON ambitions.

Midfielders Fisayo Dele-Bashiru and Ebenezer Akinsanmiro have also checked in, further boosting the numbers as the team begins to take shape. Their arrival adds depth and competition ahead of the intense preparatory sessions.

Six other players including Igoh Ogbu, Bright Osayi-Samuel, Tochukwu Nnadi, Amas Obasogie, Ademola Lookman and Semi Ajayi, were being expected last night as the Super Eagles continue to assemble for AFCON 2025.

The executive committee of the NFF has  urged  the Super Eagles to make up for their failure to qualify for the 2026 World Cup by shining at the 2025 AFCON.

In a communiqué after its  board meeting in Abuja on Thursday, the NFF demanded the Super Eagles to “completely forget the unfortunate ending to the FIFA World Cup Playoffs and use the same North African kingdom as arena to write a new story about themselves and their abilities.”

The Super Eagles lost on penalties to DR Congo in the CAF Playoffs in Morocco last month and so will not feature in the Intercontinental Playoffs in Mexico in March 2026.

Read Also: AFCON 2025: Chelle names Osimhen, Nwabali, 25 others in final Super Eagles squad

The executives also ordered the NFF secretariat to ensure the Super Falcons play top friendlies during the February international window after they could not do so last month.

The friendlies in February will prepare the Super Falcons for the defence of their WAFCON crown in March.