As the preparation for the match against Chad heightens, about 16 players have stormed the Super Eagles camp to fight for places as well as do the nation proud. They arrived on Thursday.
The encounter, scheduled to take place in Kaduna on June 13, is the Eagles first qualifying match for the tournament.
The team had failed to qualify for the 2015 edition in Equatorial Guinea, won by Cote d’ Ivoire.
Tony Ibitoye, the Super Eagles Media Officer, told the News Agency of Nigeria that the 16 players would be joined by 12 others at weekend.
Ibitoye named Chibuzor Okonkwo, Chidiebere Eze, Rabiu Ali, Ezekiel Mba, Mfon Udoh and Esosa Igbinosa as those who had arrived.
He said Chinedu Udoji, the Captain of Enyimba FC of Aba, was also among the players that had arrived the team’s camp in Abuja ahead of the encounter scheduled for Kaduna.
“Some of the players have league matches on Friday and are expected to join others on Saturday.”
According to Ibitoye, the team would begin its training at the National Stadium, Abuja on Friday with the 16 players already in camp. As at the time of the writing, training is going on.
It was reported that the team’s Head Coach, Stephen Keshi, and his assistants – Ike Shorunmu and Salisu Yusuf – as well as other backroom staff are already in camp.