Musa, Boniface spearhead 17-man Super Eagles as AFCON2023 training begins

The Super Eagles of Nigeria are set to kickstart preparation for the upcoming 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON, with their first training session slated for Wednesday. 

Nigeria’s quest to win the AFCON after a 10-year hiatus will see Jose Peseiro lead the team for their first session alongside captain Ahmed Musa and Victor Boniface. 

According to a Pulse Sport report, the Super Eagles have kicked off proceedings for Africa’s biggest football fiesta after the camp officially opened in Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates. 

Per the Super Eagles' official social media account, 17 players have arrived out of the 25 called up led by skipper Musa and Bayer Leverkusen’s Boniface.

The duo is expected to be part of the team’s first training session slated for Wednesday evening as Peseiro looks to deliver on the “Lets Do it Again” mandate from the Nigeria Football Federation.

“Afcon camp update: Players in camp,” the Super Eagles posted on their account on X.com, formerly Twitter.

The Super Eagles will play their first match in the AFCON2023, to be hosted for Cote d’Ivoire, and will begin against Equatorial Guinea on January 15th. 

Musa will lead the team with his wealth of experience, having been capped over 100 times for the Super Eagles.

Apart from Musa and Boniface, other players who have arrived at camp include Chidozie Awaziem, Kenneth Omeruo, Moses Simon, Ademola Lookman and Frank Onyeka. 

Meanwhile, African Footballer of the Year, Victor Osimhen, leads the list of players still expected to hit the camp while Wilfred Ndidi has been ruled out, with Kelechi Iheanacho still a major doubt for the AFCON2023.