• Djurtus hold first training, arrive Abuja today
A total of 16 players have arrived at the Super Eagles’ John Woods Hotel Camp in Abuja ahead of Nigeria’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Guinea-Bissau on Friday and March 27, with nine more expected, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
The Eagles are scheduled to play the Djurtus in a two-legged affair as they bid to book their place at the 2023 AFCON in Ivory Coast next year.
The first leg holds at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja on March 24, before the Eagles travel to Guinea for the second leg March 27.
Among the players in camp, Hoffenheim’s defender Kevin Akpoguma was the first player to arrive the Eagles camp.
He was later joined by Joe Aribo, Kelechi Iheanacho, Ademola Lookman, Alex Iwobi and Semi Ajayi to take the number of players in camp to six before noon on Monday.
Update from the Eagles media team also confirmed that goalkeepers Francis Uzoho and Kingsley Aniagboso have also arrived for the qualifiers.
The number of players in the camp swelled to 16 after Leicester City’s Wilfred Ndidi, Daniel Bameyi, Kenneth Omeuro, Frank Onyeka, Moses Simon, Bright Osayi-Samuel, Ahmed Musa and Paul Onuachu all hit the camp.
Meanwhile, reports from Guinea-Bissau confirmed that the Djurtus on Monday underwent medical examinations ahead of the clash.
“The players of the national team underwent electrocardiogram medical examinations earlier this (Monday) afternoon at one of the clinics in Bissau,” the Guinea-Bissau Football Federation wrote on their Facebook page.
“The athletes are well prepared and focused on the group objectives for the games against Nigeria.”
Djurtus held their first training on Monday afternoon, in Bissau at the National Stadium on September 24, under the guidance of Baciro Cande and will leave for Nigeria on Tuesday (Tuesday).
“The Guinea-Bissau players arrived early this morning and gathered in Bissau, one of the Capital’s hotels, to prepare for the double header games ahead of the Nigeria national team, in the third and fourth match of Group A, of the African Cup of Nations qualifiers to compete in Ivory Coast.
“Guinea-Bissau is set to leave the country in the early hours of Tuesday, March 21, bound for Nigeria, to play that country’s national team on March 24, in the first-hand match of the elimination.
“The second-hand match is scheduled for the 27th of this month, at the national stadium on 24th September, at upper Bandim in Bissau.”
Nigeria currently top Group A with six points, following a win over Sierra Leone in Nigeria, before thrashing Sao Tome and Principe 10-0 away from home.
Victories in the double-header clash against Guinea-Bissau will help the three-time Africa champions pick the ticket to Ivory Coast next year.
