Early arrivals to the Super Eagles’ camp in Lagos made the best use of Monday morning with a recovery session on the grounds of Eko Hotel, Victoria, as they commenced preparations for this weekend’s clash with Benin Republic, megasportsarena.com reports.
The team are billed to face The Squirrels in neighboring Porto Novo in the first of their last two 2022 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers on Saturday, then host Lesotho at Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos next Tuesday, hence the fervid commencement of training a day after the early birds landed in camp.
Six players that arrived at the team’s camp on Sunday took part in the light recovery workout on Monday morning, as captain of the side, Ahmed Musa led out Ola Aina, William Troost-Ekong, Semi Ajayi, Oghenekaro Etebo and Henry Onyekuru.
The players thereafter turned up in the well-equipped gym at the hotel, following which coach of the side, Gernot Rohr announced that they will begin full training at Teslim Balogun Stadium on Tuesday morning, when most of the invitees would have hit camp.
Rohr enthused that he would have roughly 80 percent of the invited players at his disposal later on Monday, with 13 of them expected before dusk, which would take the total in camp to 19, among who were expected to be Enyimba of Aba duo, John Noble and Anayo Iwuala as well as Abia Warriors of Umuahia defender, Adeleke Adekunle.
Adekunla, a late replacement for Leganes of Spain stopper, Kenneth Omeruo, started for Abia Warriors in their 3-1 win over Katsina United on Sunday, while Noble and Iwuala were billed to line out with Enyimba against Sunshine Stars of Akure at Agege Stadium, Lagos on Monday evening.
Ten foreign-based players being expected later on Monday were goalkeeper Maduka Okoye, Alex Iwobi, Tyronne Ebuehi, Victor Osimhen, Jamilu Collins, Chidozie Awaziem, Leon Balogun, Joe Aribo, Abdullahi Shehu and Paul Onuachu.
However, four players have already pulled out, as Samuel Kalu is injured, while COVID-19 travel restrictions stopped Omeruo and Almeria of Spain attacker, Umar Sadiq Umar as well as FC Nantes of France winger, Moses Simon from reporting for international duty.
