Twenty-four (24) invited players of Nigeria’s Super Eagles have arrived the Faro, Portugal camp of the senior national team ahead of upcoming international friendly games against Saudi Arabia and Mozambique.
The Super Eagles are yet to win any friendly game under their Portuguese manager Jose Peseiro but will be hoping to change that narrative in the coming days when they take to the pitch in Portugal.
Portugal based stars Bruno Onyemaechi and Chidozie Awaziem – a late invitee in place of Jamilu Collins – led the Super Eagles players to camp in Faro which has been a happy preparation base for the team from year to year.
England based duo Kelechi Iheanacho and Frank Onyeka were the lastest Super Eagles stars to join up with the team at their hotel base in Faro while Turkey based Fisayo Dele-Bashiru joined in later on Wednesday evening.
Ibiala, kaabo, barka da zuwa @fisayodele6_ Oya add your own language #SoarSuperEagles #LetsDoitAgain pic.twitter.com/kbpoUWXva7
—Super Eagles (@NGSuperEagles) October 11, 2023
In not-too-good news though, it is unlikely that goalkeepers Adebayo Adeleye and Olorunleke Ojo will be able to join up with the rest of the squad due to visa-related issues. Italy based goalkeeper Maduka Okoye has since been invited and already arrived camp to provide competition for Francis Uzoho.
The Super Eagles take on Saudi Arabia in a friendly game at the Estadio Municipal de Portimão in Portugal, on Friday with the bulk of the squad that blew away Sao Tome and Principe on ground.
It is only the second time both countries will be clashing at senior international level. The only previous encounter was hi also a friendly, played at the Alpenstadion in Austria on May 25, 2010 as part of final preparations for the Eagles for the FIFA World Cup finals in South Africa.
The Eagles have another friendly encounter on Monday, against the Mambas of Mozambique at the same venue, before 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches against Lesotho and Zimbabwe in November.
Both encounters have been arranged as tune-up games for the Super Eagles ahead of the commencement of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches, in which the three-time African champions host Lesotho’s Crocodiles in Uyo on 17th November before travelling away to play Zimbabwe four days later.
SUPER EAGLES PLAYERS IN FARO
Goalkeepers: Francis Uzoho (Omonia FC, Cyprus); Maduka Okoye (Udinese, Italy)
Defenders: Tyronne Ebuehi (Empoli, Italy); Bright Osayi-Samuel (Fenerbahce FC, Turkey); Jordan Torunarigha (KAA Gent, Belgium); Kenneth Omeruo (Kasimpasa FC, Turkey); Oluwasemilogo Ajayi (West Bromwich Albion, England); Calvin Bassey (Fulham FC, England); Chidozie Awaziem (Boavista, Portugal); Bruno Onyemaechi (Boavista FC, Portugal).
Midfielders: Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England); Raphael Onyedika (Club Brugge, Belgium); Joe Ayodele-Aribo (Southampton FC, England); Frank Onyeka (Brentford FC, England); Alex Iwobi (Fulham FC, England); Fisayo Dele-Bashiru (Hatayaspor FC, Turkey)
Forwards: Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City, England); Samuel Chukwueze (AC Milan, Italy); Moses Simon (FC Nantes, France); Ademola Lookman (Atalanta FC, Italy); Victor Osimhen (SSC Napoli, Italy); Sadiq Umar (Real Sociedad, Spain); Terem Moffi (OGC Nice, France); Victor Boniface (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany)
