By Jennifer Amarachi
Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong, attacker Ademola Lookman of Atalanta, and the English four of Ola Aina, Semi Ajayi, Taiwo Awoniyi, and Wilfred Ndidi are among the first players to report to the camp for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Rwanda and Benin Republic.
Prior to the two games, which are scheduled to take place on September 7 at Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo against the Benin Republic’s Cheetahs and three days later in Kigali against Amuvabi, the players reported to their Uyo camp on Monday.
Only 11 players had reported to camp as of the time this story was filed, according to the media team, with additional players anticipated to report before Tuesday evening.
Among the first players to arrive at the Eagles camp are Troost-Ekong, who just signed with Al-Kholood of the Saudi Pro League; Lookman; Aina and Awoniyi of Nottingham Forest; Ndidi; and goalkeeper Olisa Ndah and Ajayi of South Africa.
The goalkeepers from Lazio Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, South Africa-based Stanley Nwabali, Bayer Leverkusen Victor Boniface, and former Bendel Insurance goalkeeper Amas Obasogie are also in camp.
Former Napoli striker Victor Osimhen, Fulham teammates Calvin Bassey and Alex Iwobi, Moses Simon, Samuel Chukweuze, Maduka Okoye, Raphael Onyedika, and Kelechi Iheanacho are still anticipated in Uyo.
Frank Onyeka, Bruno Onyemaechi, Bright Osayi-Samuel, and Alhassan Yusuf Abdullahi are also anticipated to join soon.
After missing out on action for the three-time African champions since the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations final matchup against Ivory Coast in February, Captain Troost-Ekong is rejoining the team.
Awoniyi and Aina are also making a comeback after sitting out the friendlies against Mali and Ghana in March and the 2026 World Cup qualifiers against South Africa and Benin last month.
Ndah, meanwhile, is receiving his first invitation since taking part in Guinea-Bissau’s third group match in the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations. Augustine Eguavoen, the Technical Director of the NFF, will coach the team after German coach Bruno Labbadia, who was named the squad’s coach last Tuesday, declined Nigeria’s offer.
The Nigeria Football Federation’s Director of Communications, Ademola Olajire, confirmed in a statement on Monday that Fidelis Ilechukwu and Daniel Ogunmodede will support him.
Following a second-place finish in the Ivory Coast earlier this year, Nigeria’s road to another showpiece will be played in Morocco from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026. On Saturday, September 7, they will play Benin Republic; three days later, they will face Rwanda in Kigali.
