AFCON: One week to go, Eguavoen yet to train with full squad

With less than a week to the Super Eagles’ first game against Egypt in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Cameroon, interim coach Austin Eguavoen, has not had the opportunity to train with the full squad as only 14 players are in camp.

With less than a week to the Super Eagles’ first game against Egypt in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Cameroon, interim coach Austin Eguavoen, has not had the opportunity to train with the full squad as only 14 players are in camp.

It was expected that all the invited UK-based Super Eagles stars would hit Abuja camp on Monday but Eguavoen has said he will be expecting them except for Venezia right back, Tyronne Ebuehi, who will fly in straight to Cameroon from Italy.

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Those being eagerly expected include Wilfred Ndidi and Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City), Alex Iwobi (Everton), Semi Ajayi (West Brom), William Troost-Ekong (Watford), Frank Onyeka (Brentford), and Joe Aribo (Glasgow Rangers).

The arrival of the UK-based players will see the camp come alive as coach Austin Eguavoen continues to give instructions to the players on his winning strategy.

The other players expected are Kenneth Omeruo (CD Leganes, Spain), Jamilu Collins (SC Padeborn 07, Germany); Tyrone Ebuehi (Venezia FC, Italy); Kelechi Nwakali (SD Huesca, Spain), Samuel Chukwueze (Villarreal FC, Spain), Olaoluwa Aina (Torino FC, Italy) and Odion Jude Ighalo (Al-Shabab Riyadh, Saudi Arabia).

“We are expecting all the other players in camp tomorrow (today) except Tyronne. His club pleaded as he has a game on the 5th and the club will bring him straight to Cameroon on the 6th,” Eguavoen said after a training session at the MKO Abiola National Stadium yesterday.

The 14 players in Super Eagles camp are Captain Ahmed Musa (Fatih Karagumruk (Turkey), Maduka Okoye (Sparta Rotterdam, Netherlands), Zaidu Sanusi (FC Porto, Portugal), Moses Simon (FC Nantes, France), Francis Uzoho (AC Omonia, Cyprus).

Others are Henry Onyekuru (Olympiacos, Greece), Peter Olayinka (Slavia Praha, Czech Republic), Chidozie Awaziem (Alayanspor, Turkey), Chidera Ejuke (CSKA Moscow, Russia), Daniel Akpeyi (Kaizer Chiefs, South Africa), Sadiq Umar (UD Almeria, Spain), Olisa Ndah (Orlando Pirates, South Africa), John Noble (Enyimba FC) and Taiwo Awoniyi (Union Berlin, Germany).