2023 AFCON Qualifiers:Peseiro rests NPFL stars as 19 Eagles begin training in Lagos

Super Eagles training

Super Eagles Manager, Jose Peseiro, held his first training session with his players, yesterday, in Lagos, ahead of the Cote d’Ivoire 2024 African Cup of Nations qualifier against Sierra Leone on Sunday. A draw in the game billed for Monrovia, Liberia, will ensure Nigeria’s qualification for the tourney.

The players started arriving in the Eagles’ camp on Sunday, with 19 of the 23 invited players involved in yesterday’s opening training session at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Lagos.

Two of the players, Ebube Duru of Rivers United and Bendel Insurance’s Divine Nwachukwu did not join their mates in the session as they were given time off to recover from their Nigerian Premier Football League (NPFL) Championship Play-Off exertions at the weekend.

Duru and Nwachukwu were first teamers as their clubs battle for honours in the season-deciding play-off, which ended at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena on Sunday.

Players that featured in yesterday’s training session were Alex Iwobi, Samuel Chukwueze, Zaidu Sanusi, Taiwo Awoniyi, Semi Ajayi, Kevin Akpoguma, Ahmed Musa and Adebayo Adeleye.

Rivers United goalkeeper, Victor Sochima, was also in the session alongside William Troost-Ekong, Kelechi Iheanacho, Wilfred Ndidi, Joe Aribo, Moses Simon, Frank Onyeka, Ademola Lookman and Kenneth Omeruo.

The Super Eagles are top of their qualification group with nine points out of four matches, followed by Guinea Bissau’s Wild Dogs, who have seven points. Leone Stars, who gave the Eagles a tough run in Abuja on Day 1 of the qualification series before succumbing 2-1, are on five points. Sao Tome and Principe, who play the Super Eagles on the final day of the series in September, are bottom with only one point.

Nigeria and Sierra Leone