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Nigeria vs. Sierra Leone: Super Eagles camp bubbles with new arrivals

Coach Rohr had earlier raised concerns about travelling difficulties of some players.

• November 10, 2020
Super Eagles
Super Eagles

Despite the concerns about the availability of some Super Eagles stars due to travelling hitches caused by coronavirus lockdown in some European countries, the national team camp in Benin has welcomed new arrivals.

Team captain Ahmed Musa, Kelechi Iheanacho and Oghenekaro Etebo were among the latest arrivals at the team’s camp in the prestigious Eterno Hotel in Benin City.

The Super Eagles take on the Leone Stars at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City on November 13 in a first of two qualifying matches for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

The team will then fly to Freetown for the return game on November 17 at the Siaka Stevens Stadium.

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) confirmed their arrivals on the team’s official Twitter handle on Monday.

Coach Gernot Rohr had earlier revealed that the players invited to the national team for the 2021 AFCON qualifying matches with Sierra Leone were facing travelling difficulties due to a new lockdown in some European countries.

The players affected include Daniel Akpeyi, Leon Balogun, Joe Aribo, Jamilu Collins, Semi Ajayi, Zaidu Sanusi, Kevin Akpoguma, Frank Onyeka, Emmanuel Dennis, Samuel Chukwueze, Victor Osimhen and Chidera Ejuke.

The German football tactician said he was, however, hopeful of having the full complement of the 24 players called up by Tuesday.

According to the tweet by NFF, Musa who flew into the country from Saudi Arabia, where he recently parted ways with Al Nassr was a surprise visitor at the camp of the Flying Eagles in Abuja earlier on Monday.

“He charged the team to go do the nation proud at the WAFU 2020 Regional Cup before connecting another flight to Benin.”

Musa was joined by Leicester City of England’s Iheanacho and Etebo from Turkish-based club, Galatasaray.

Other early birds to the team’s camp are goalkeeper Maduka Okoye of Sparta Rotterdam in The Netherlands and KRC Genk of Belgium’s forward Paul Onuachu who was called up to replace the injured Moses Simon.

NAN

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