Abidjan, Jan. 26, 2024 (NAN) All the Super Eagles players at the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Côte d’Ivoire took part in the team’s training session on Friday in Abidjan.
The training is in preparation for the first game of the round of 16 matches against the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon on Saturday.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the round of 16 encounter is bid for the Félix Houphouët-Boigny Stadium, Abidjan.
NAN reports that all the players, including 23-year-old Alhassan Yusuf, who sustained an injury in the Super Eagles’ opening game against Equatorial Guinea, trained.
Another player who missed the last game against Guinea-Bissau is the Super Eagles’ stand-in captain, William Ekong, who also took part in full training on Friday at the Ecole Nationale de Police, Abidjan.
The coach of the team, Jose Peseiro, said at a news conference ahead of the Cameroon game that Leicester City of England player Kelechi Iheanacho may get his chance to play for the first time in this competition.
NAN reports that Nigeria and Cameroon have faced each other seven times in the Africa Cup of Nations, with each team winning three and drawing one.
Cameroon won the finals of the 1984, 1988, and 2000 AFCON tournaments, a 2-1 win that ensured the Super Eagles won the bronze medal in 1992.
Nigeria then overcame Cup winners Cameroon 2-1 in the 2004 quarterfinals and won 3-2 in Egypt’s Round of 16 in 2019.
In 1988, both teams drew 1-1 in the group stage, with Samuel Okwaraji scoring after only two minutes in Rabat and Roger Milla equalising with a header.
NAN reports that the match is scheduled for 9:00 p.m.(NAN)
