Super Eagles players are expected to start arriving camp in Tangier, Morocco on Monday (today) for their 2022 World Cup qualifier against Liberia.
Both teams play on Saturday on match-day four of the World Cup qualifiers.
Liberia play their home games in Morocco after their stadiums couldn’t meet the Confederation of African Football’s requirements for the qualifiers.
According to a statement by the Communications Department of the Nigeria Football Federation on November 1, “The invited (Eagles) players and overseas-based members of the technical crew are to report directly to the city of Tangier on Monday, November 8, while technical officials from Nigeria are to report in Tangier same day.”
With most of the Eagles players clubs involved in league matches on Sunday, only a handful of them are expected on the first day of camping.
Among the players expected to hit camp early is Saudi Arabia-based Odion Ighalo, who makes a return to the team after over two years out, and CSKA Moscow winger Chidera Ejuke, who played in his side’s 4-1 loss to PFC Sochi in the Russian league on Saturday.
SC Paderborn’s Jamilu Collins, Hoffenheim’s Kevin Akpoguma, Sparta Rotterdam’s Maduka Okoye, Kaizer Chiefs’ Daniel Akpeyi and Leganes defender Kenneth Omeruo are also among the players coach Gernot Rohr hopes to have in camp early.
UK-based Frank Onyeka, Leon Balogun, William Troost-Ekong, Joe Aribo, Wilfred Ndidi, Alex Iwobi and Kelechi Iheanacho are expected to fly into Morocco together, alongside Torino’s Ola Aina.
All other players are also expected in camp latest Tuesday evening, for Nigeria’s last two World Cup qualifiers.
The Eagles play Liberia at the Grand Stade de Tanger, Morocco on Saturday, before hosting Cape Verde three days later at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos in the final group match of the qualifiers.
Nigeria lead Group C with nine points, two ahead of second-place Cape Verde.
Group winners will advance to the last qualification stage, where the 10 teams will play each other in a two-legged tie.
The five winners then qualify for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.