The Super Eagles have officially opened their Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) camp in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Coach Jose Peseiro has already selected 25 players for the upcoming competition, set to commence in mid-January in Cote d’Ivoire.
Except for one home-based player, the rest of the invitees are expected to join the camp from their respective European clubs.
Samuel Chukwueze (AC Milan), goalkeeper Francis Uzoho, William Troost-Ekong, and Sadiq Umar (Real Sociedad) have been granted permission to participate in their club games today before joining the camp on Wednesday.
The Super Eagles will spend a week in the UAE to fine-tune their preparations for the biennial football showpiece.
Placed in Group A, Nigeria will face hosts Cote d’Ivoire, Guinea-Bissau, and Equatorial Guinea.
Their first match is against Equatorial Guinea on Sunday, January 15, 2024, followed by clashes against Cote d’Ivoire four days later and Guinea-Bissau on Monday, January 22.
Nigeria enters the tournament following a lackluster start to the 2026 World Cup qualification campaign, securing only two points from as many games against Lesotho and Zimbabwe in late 2023. The team’s poor performance has led to calls for the dismissal of Coach Peseiro, with fans and pundits questioning his tactical capabilities to lead one of Africa’s most talented football squads.
Despite the criticism, Nigerian football authorities argue that dismissing the Portuguese coach just weeks before a major tournament would be an unwise decision.
Although Peseiro faces pressure heading into the competition, the former Al-Ahly coach remains optimistic about the Super Eagles’ chances of clinching another continental title, eleven years after Nigeria’s previous victory in South Africa.
“We will fight to win the Africa Cup even though it won’t be easy,” Peseiro told NFF TV.
“Our group is not easy because we are up against the Ivory Coast, who have a good squad and are playing at home.
“Equatorial Guinea reached the quarter-final at the last AFCON, better than Nigeria, while Guinea Bissau beat us at home (in the qualifiers). We have to be at our best in our trainings and in our matches.”