By Francis Ajuonuma
Defenders Kenneth Omeruo from Kasimpasa of Turkey, Jamilu Collins from Cardiff FC of Wales and forward Sadiq Umar from Real Sociedad of Spain were the early arrivals to the Super Eagles camp in Uyo on Monday (yesterday) ahead of Thursday’s 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Lesotho’s Crocodiles at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium (Uyo).
The trio arrived at the Victor Attah International Airport, Uyo by 11am on Monday (yesterday) and were received by the secretary of the Akwa Ibom State Football Normalization Committee, Sir John Etim on behalf of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).
Also in camp is Leicester City striker, Kelechi Iheanacho, who arrived Uyo at exactly 6:17 pm via an Ibom Air flight.
Super Eagles head coach Jose Peseiro, accompanied by his foreign assistants Maykel Moreira, Acacio Santos, and Vitor Hugo, had earlier arrived Uyo on Sunday afternoon to prepare ground for the players.
More players were expected to hit camp on Yesterday, as preparation for the clash gets underway. Peseiro had invited 23 players for Nigeria’s qualifiers against Zimbabwe and Lesotho.
However, Boavista defender Bruno Onyemaechi’s availability for the games is in doubt after he picked up a knock during his side’s 3-1 defeat at home to Farense on Sunday.
Meanwhile, the Lesotho delegation were scheduled to arrive on Monday night aboard a Kenyan Airways flight and are expected to fly to Uyo on Tuesday (today).
Accommodations for players and officials have been arranged at the Ibom Hotel and Resorts.
The match officials, led by Tunisian referees, would land in Uyo on Tuesday (today) before Thursday’s clash.
After Thursday’s encounter, the Super Eagles will embark on a journey to Kigali, Rwanda, to face Zimbabwe on Sunday in the second fixture of this international window.
