Five Super Eagles players arrive at training camp after Labour suspends strike

Five Super Eagles players have arrived in Uyo, the capital of Akwa Ibom State, ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against South Africa and Benin Republic.

This was announced on Tuesday by Promise Efoghe, Super Eagles Media Relations Officer.

According to the team spokesman, Semi Ajayi, Calvin Bassey, Bright Osayi-Samuel, Frank Onyeka and Paul Onuachu have arrived at the camp.

He said the players had all arrived in Nigeria but were unable to get a connecting flight to Uyo due to the announcement of a strike by the Labour Party on Monday. The strike was suspended by the Labour Party on Tuesday.

Following the arrival of the five players, the number of players in the camp is currently 20. The three players still expected are Maduka Okoye, Ademola Lookman and Alex Iwobi.

After two matches in Group C of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification, the Eagles have two points after 1-1 draws against Lesotho and Zimbabwe.

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Friday’s opponents, South Africa, are in second place with three points after one win and one loss, while the Republic of Benin are bottom of the six-team table with just one point.

Rwanda tops the group with four points, while Lesotho and Zimbabwe are fourth and fifth respectively with two points each.

Meanwhile, the Eagles are seeking their first home win against South Africa since a 2-0 victory at the MKO Abiola Stadium in Abuja in 2008.

In their last two trips to Nigeria, Bafana Bafana have recorded a draw (2-2) and a win (0-2) against the Eagles in 2014 and 2017, both times at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, the venue for Friday’s qualifiers.

In the semi-finals of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, the Eagles defeated South Africa 4-2 on penalties after 120 minutes ended 1-1. It was the Nigerian team’s fourth win in four Africa Cup of Nations matches against the South Africans.