The Super Eagles’ camp in Cairo continued to gather momentum on Monday night as more players arrived ahead of Nigeria’s friendly clash with Egypt and the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
Wilfred Ndidi, Bruno Onyemaechi, Akor Adams, Cyriel Dessers and Raphael Onyedika were the latest names to report at the team’s base, the Renaissance Hotel, taking the number of players in camp to 21.
The quintet wasted no time settling in, joining their teammates for the first full training session at the Cairo International Stadium later in the evening.
Seven more players are still expected to link up with the squad as preparations intensify for Tuesday’s high-profile friendly against the Pharaohs of Egypt.
Three-time champions Nigeria and seven-time winners Egypt meet at the Cairo Stadium in a fixture billed as a key dress rehearsal ahead of the 35th AFCON finals, which get underway in Morocco on Sunday.
Both technical crews are expected to use the game to test combinations and assess squad depth before final decisions are made.
Nigeria’s head coach, Eric Chelle, has several fresh faces at his disposal and could hand minutes to players such as goalkeeper Amas Obasogie, defender Tochukwu Nnadi, midfielders Ebenezer Akinsanmiro and Usman Muhammed, as well as forwards Paul Onuachu and Salim Fago Lawal.
Egypt, meanwhile, are led by Hossam Hassan, one of the tournament’s most celebrated figures. The former striker was the joint top scorer when the Pharaohs lifted the title in 1998, netting seven goals in Burkina Faso. His current side is expected to build around Liverpool star Mohamed Salah, who remains in pursuit of his first Africa Cup of Nations crown.
Salah will be backed by an experienced supporting cast that includes Manchester City forward Omar Marmoush, the Al Ahly trio of Mohamed El-Shenawy, Mohamed Hany, and Yasser Ibrahim, along with Emam Ashour and Mahmoud Trezeguet.
CAF Champions League holders Pyramids contribute Mohamed Hamdy and Mostafa Fathi, while Ibrahim Adel and FC Nantes striker Mostafa Mohamed also feature in the squad.
Chelle is likely to lean on a familiar core for Nigeria, with Stanley Nwabali expected in goal behind defenders Bright Osayi-Samuel, Semi Ajayi, Calvin Bassey and Zaidu Sanusi. The midfield engine room could feature Ndidi, Frank Onyeka and Alex Iwobi, while the attacking line is set to include Ademola Lookman alongside the team’s established forwards.
Kick-off is scheduled for 8 pm local time in Egypt, which is 7 pm in Nigeria. By Monday night, 23 of the 28 players named in Nigeria’s final squad had arrived in Cairo, with the remainder due before matchday.
After the friendly, the Super Eagles will leave Cairo on Thursday aboard a chartered flight to Fés, where they will be based for the tournament.
Nigeria are chasing a fourth continental crown, having previously triumphed in 1980, 1994 and 2013, with the campaign carrying the slogan NAIJA 4 THE WIN.
They open their Group C campaign on Tuesday, December 23 against Tanzania’s Taifa Stars, a repeat of the opening fixture of the 1980 finals. Tunisia await on Saturday, December 27, before a final group match against Uganda on Tuesday, December 30, all at the Complexe Sportif de Fés.
Egypt, the only nation to win the AFCON three times in a row between 2006 and 2010, are drawn in Group B alongside South Africa, Angola and Zimbabwe, with their fixtures set for the Stade d’Agadir in Agadir.
Super Eagles’ Players currently in camp
Francis Uzoho, Stanley Nwabali, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, Ebenezer Akinsanmiro, Amas Obasogie, Semi Ajayi, Ademola Lookman, Bright Osayi-Samuel, Igho Ogbu, Tochukwu Nnadi, Zaidu Sanusi, Paul Onuachu, Frank Onyeka, Calvin Bassey, Alex Iwobi, Wilfred Ndidi, Bruno Onyemaechi, Cyriel Dessers, Akor Adams, Chidera Ejuke and Raphael Onyedika.
