Super Eagles players Ahmed Musa, Kenneth Omeruo, Olorunleke Ojo and other team officials are expected to fly out today from Abuja as the Eagles prepare to camp in Dubai ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations starting January 10 in Cote d’Ivoire.
The other players invited by coach Jose Peseiro for the tournament are will join the team in the UAE as the training resumes on Wednesday. The Super Eagles will spend the next seven days blending and are expected to return to Nigeria before travelling to Abidjan where they would kick their first ball of the tournament in group January 14 against Equatorial Guinea.
Meanwhile coach Peseiro said the inclusion of goalkeeper Stanley Nwabili in the squad is a boost for the team based on his performance with his South African club Chippa United.
“We believe in him (Nwabili) because he showed good quality, good performance, and good capacities. Now I hope he displays the same quality he showed at his club”, Peseiro told NFF TV.
The 27-year-old will compete with Francis Uzoho and Olorunleke Ojo for a starting berth in the team.
Peseiro added that the players were selected based on their fitness and performances in their respective clubs.
“We first came up with the 41 players, then the players who made the final list have been with us, and they have shown good performance.
“There are players who showed good performance in their clubs but didn’t do well in the national team. Also, there are players who do well for the national team and didn’t do well in their clubs.
“We looked at current form, if they are playing well and showed good condition.”
