Super Eagles’ captain William Ekong, Ademola Lookman, Moses Simon, and 19 other players participated in Tuesday’s first training session in Abidjan.

Only Spain-based forward Sadiq Umar was being expected.

The team were in high spirits ahead of a potentially explosive Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match against neighbours Benin Republic on Thursday.

Coach Augustine Eguavoen told journalists on Tuesday that the atmosphere in the Eagles’ camp was great, adding that the players and coaching crew were upbeat ahead of the match.

“We have 22 players, with only one person to join the team in the early hours of Wednesday.

“It has been a particularly great atmosphere here in Abidjan, and we are all very positive going into the first training session ahead of the match,” he said.

Eleven players arrived on Tuesday morning, including captain and AFCON Man of the Competition Ekong, reigning Africa Player of the Year Victor Osimhen and his likely successor Ademola Lookman.

Others are defenders Bright Osayi-Samuel, Olaoluwa Aina, Victor Collins and Calvin Bassey, midfielders Alex Iwobi and Alhassan Yusuf Abdullahi, and Germany-based forward Victor Boniface.

They were joined later by South Africa-based goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali.

Earlier, goalkeeper Maduka Okoye, midfielder Wilfred Ndidi, and forward Kelechi Iheanacho arrived to join the eight early birds in camp on Monday.

The early birds were goalkeeper Amas Obasogie, defenders Gabriel Osho and Bruno Onyemaechi, midfielders Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, Frank Onyeka and Raphael Onyedika, and forwards Moses Simon and Samuel Chukwueze.

With 10 points from four matches, seven goals for and none against, and top of their Group D, the Eagles will walk with an extra bounce into the Stade Felix Houphouet-Boigny.

It was the stadium where they upended the aspirations of Guinea Bissau, Cameroon and Angola at the 34th Africa Cup of Nations finals in Cote d’Ivoire earlier in the year.

It was also the venue where, in the summer, they were defeated 2-1 by the Cheetahs (who have been forced by lack of a CAF-approved facility in their country to adopt Abidjan as home) in a 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying game in which they scored first.

Ekong told journalists on Tuesday that the game wouldn’t be an easy one, adding that the team’s objective was to go all out for the win.

“The stadium is a familiar one for us, and we have good memories of the AFCON. We will rather focus on the positive results we have taken away from here and work hard for another good day in the office on Thursday.

“It is not going to be easy because the Beninoise are also chasing a ticket to the final tournament. However, our objective is clear: three points on the night,” he said.

Senegalese official Issa Sy, who was in charge when the Super Eagles pipped Angola 1-0 at the same venue in a quarter-final match of the AFCON finals, has been selected by CAF as referee for Thursday’s encounter.

He will be supported by compatriots Djibril Camara (assistant 1), Nouha Bangoura (assistant 2) and El Hadji Amadou Sy (fourth official). Ivorian Rene Williams Sere will be the commissioner.

Angolan Inacio Manuel Candido will be the referee assessor.

The Super Eagles need only one point from Thursday’s clash to be sure of a ticket to the 35th AFCON.

Thursday’s encounter between the Super Eagles and the Cheetahs of Benin Republic will commence at 7:00 p.m. CIV time (8:00 p.m. Nigeria time).

(NAN)