AFCON 2025: Sadiq Umar missing as 22 Super Eagles train for Benin Republic in Abidjan

The Super Eagles of Nigeria have intensified preparation for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match against Benin Republic.

Real Sociedad forward Sadiq Umar is the only player yet to arrive as the team had their first training session at the Stade Felix Houphouet-Boigny on Tuesday.

Coach Augustine Eguavoen told the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) details of the players arrival at camp.

He said, “We have 22 players, with only one person to join the team in the early hours of Wednesday.

"It has been a particularly great atmosphere here in Abidjan, and we are all very positive going into the first training session ahead of the match.”

Goalie Amas Obasogie, defenders Gabriel Osho and Bruno Onyemaechi, midfielders Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, Frank Onyeka, and Raphael Onyedika, forwards Moses Simon and Samuel Chukwueze, and goalkeeper Maduka Okoye had already arrived to join the eight players in camp on Monday.

Eleven players arrived simultaneously on Tuesday morning: captain and AFCON Man of the Competition William Ekong, 2024 Africa Player of the Year Victor Osimhen and favorites for the next editoon his Ademola Lookman.

Others included Bright Osayi-Samuel, Olaoluwa Aina, Victor Collins, and Calvin Bassey, midfielders Alex Iwobi and Alhassan Yusuf Abdullahi, and Victor Boniface.