Troost-Ekong, Ighalo, seven others arrive as Eagles’ camp bubbles

Super Eagles started training for the Qatar 2022 World Cup qualifier against Ghana in Abuja…yesterday

• Ghana set to cap seven new stars

Nigeria’s preparation for the Qatar 2022 World Cup qualifier against Ghana got up to a busy start yesterday with nine of the invited 25 players already in the Super Eagles’ Wells Carlton Hotel camp, Abuja.

The early arrivals include Skipper Ahmed Musa, William Troost-Ekong, Frank Onyeka, Leon Balogun, Odion Ighalo, Ola Aina and Semi Ajayi. Also in camp are Daniel Akpeyi and Oghenekaro Etebo.

Reports from the Eagles’ camp indicate that more players were expected to be in camp later yesterday, while the remaining stars will come in today.

Spain-based Sadiq Umar is expected to arrive a little later as he is the arrowhead of his club, UD Almeria’s quest to gain promotion to La Liga. He will arrive after Almeria’s game against Tenerife yesterday.

Meanwhile, Ghana is expected to cap seven new players in the matches against Nigeria, hoping that the new legs will get them the World Cup ticket.

The Black Stars’ technical adviser, Chris Houghton, arrived in Ghana at the weekend to get acquainted with the team and its officials. Some of the players expected to play against Nigeria started arriving in Accra on Saturday ready for today’s movement to Kumasi, venue of the first leg of the World Cup qualifier.

Although the coaches are still hiding the names of the players they expect to parade against Nigeria, reports are rife in Ghana that eight new players will come in to join the team that played at the Cameroun 2022 Africa Cup of Nations.

Among them are midfielder, Usman Bukari of Nantes, who played for Ghana’s U-23 team in the past, Felix Afene Gyan of Roma, a striker, Mohammed Sanusi, a defender from