Stories By Amaechi Agbo
A total number of 13 Eagles player have arrived Uyo ahead of Wednesday matchday 1 of the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON qualifier against Bening Republic on Wednesday.
The 13 players, 10 of which arrived the Godswill Akpabio Stadium Uyo, Akwa Ibom include, captain Ahmed Musa, Leicester City of England power house, Wilfred Ndidi: Jamilu Collins, Okoye Maduka, Azeez Ramon, Chidozie Awaziem, Semi Ajayi, Ola Aina as well as Alex Iwobiwho joined Ikechukwu Ezenwa, Samuel Kalu and Kenneth Omeruo who reported to camp on Sunday.
With the 13 players in camp as at the time of this report, the remaining 10 players of the 23 invited for the match are expected to arrive Tuesday morning. The team is expected to have full house Tuesday and full training session ahead of the clash on Wednesday.
The three-time African champions after playing Benin, are billed to travel to Setsoto Stadium to slug it out with the Crocodiles for their second game in Group L on Sunday.
Rohr has named a strong 23-man squad for the encounters as they hope to kick off their campaign on a high.
Meanwhile, the delegation of the senior men national team of Benin Republic, known as Squirrels, will land in Uyo, capital of Akwa Ibom State today, ahead of Wednesday’s 2021 AFCON qualifying duel with the Super Eagles.
The two teams were also part of the 2019 AFCON finals in Egypt, with Nigeria winning the bronze medals while Benin Republic famously defeated Morocco while holding their own against Cameroon and Ghana.
CAF has named Senegalese official Issa Sy as referee for the match, to be assisted by compatriots Nouha Bangoura (assistant referee 1), El Hadji Abdoul Aziz Gueye (assistant referee 2) and Fatou Thioune (fourth official).
The Day 1 clash in the qualifying series will also see Munkaila Nassam Adam from Ghana as match commissioner while Kria Samir Bouzareah from Algeria will play the role of referee assessor.
The match officials arrived in Uyo on Monday.
Cameroon is the designated host nation for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations finals.
