The atmosphere around the camp of the three-time African champions Nigeria has received a morale boost as five players who were initially stranded in two different parts of the country due to the nationwide strike were ferried into Uyo on Tuesday morning.
Defenders Semi Ajayi, Bright Osayi-Samuel, and Calvin Bassey, alongside midfielder Frank Onyeka and forward Paul Onuachu landed at the Victor Attah International Airport, Uyo just after noon aboard a private jet arranged by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), and were driven to the team’s Ibom Hotel and Resorts to meet up with teammates in time for lunch, NFF Media reports.
The new arrivals brought the tally of players in camp to 20, just three days to the Matchday 3 qualifying battle against the Bafana Bafana of South Africa at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom state capital.
The clash will be a rematch of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations first semi-final earlier this year, which the Super Eagles came out on top of the South Africans after a penalty shootout which ended 4-2 at the Stade de la Paix in Bouake, Côte d’Ivoire.
AFCON 2023 silver medallists, Nigeria, who have reached the Round of 16 at the FIFA World Cup three times, missed out on the last football party in Qatar, and after a sluggish start to the qualifiers, need all three points on offer to be in strong contention for the only ticket from Group C as the campaign drags on.
Rwanda lead the pool after two matchdays with four points, with South Africa on three and Nigeria on two. Newly appointed Super Eagles coach, Finidi George, must get the hosts back on track to have a shot at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The 10-match series will end in October next year, with winners of the nine groups qualifying automatically for the finals in Canada, USA, and Mexico. The best four second-placed teams in all nine groups will contest a CAF Play-off Tournament, with the winner contesting a FIFA Play-off Tournament for another slot.
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