AFCON

16 Eagles Train Ahead of AFCON Qualifier, Osimhen Absent

By Obiajulu Joel Nwolu

November 11, 2020

Ahead of their Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier against Sierra Leone in Benin City on Friday, the Super Eagles had their first leg of training session on Tuesday.

16 out of the 23 invited players took part in the training session, News Agency of Nigeria reports.

Despite earlier confirmation that Napoli striker, Victor Osimhen had arrived the Eagles’ camp, he was suspiciously a absent from the training prompting questions ahead of the crucial match.

According to a statement by Amaju Pinnick, President of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), on Tuesday Osimhen had arrived the team’s camp despite having flight challenges.

He said “Osimhen called me two days ago complaining that an airline could not carry him because of XYZ.. and asked if he could get another ticket and I said ‘we are going to get a ticket for you’ and I am happy he has arrived.

“So, you can see the commitment of the young players to this country,” he said.

Reports by NAN indicate that Chidozie Awaziem, Kelechi Iheanacho and Emmanuel Dennis were among the latest crop of players to arrive the Benin City camp.

Among the players in camp are team captain Ahmed Musa, England-based trio of William Troost-Ekong, Alex Iwobi, Ola Aina as well as Joe Aribo and Leon Balogun who both play Rangers in Scotland.

Maduka Okoye, Sebastian Osigwe and Ikechukwu Ezenwa who was called up as a late replacement for Daniel Akpeyi makeup the list of goalkeepers in camp.

Others already in camp are Kevin Akpoguma, Zaidu Sanusi, Tyronne Ebuehi, and Oghenekaro Etebo.

The Super Eagles will battle the Leone Stars at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Edo State before the reverse fixture in Freetown on Tuesday.