Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong, left-back Bruno Onyemaechi, and goalkeeper Amas Obasogie have become the first arrivals at Nigeria’s camp in Uyo ahead of the all-important 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Rwanda and Zimbabwe.
The trio checked into the team’s Four Points by Sheraton hotel base on Monday morning, setting the pace for what promises to be a tense build-up to the doubleheader. Troost-Ekong and Obasogie flew in together, while Onyemaechi joined shortly after.
More invited players are expected to storm Uyo later today as head coach Eric Chelle pushes for full house before Tuesday. Chelle, who named a 23-man squad for the qualifiers, is under pressure to deliver maximum points after Nigeria’s stuttering start in the group.
The first official training session has been scheduled for Tuesday evening at the practice pitch of the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium — the same venue that will host both fixtures.
Nigeria, chasing a return to the World Cup after the painful miss in 2022, face Rwanda on Friday before locking horns with Zimbabwe four days later. Both matches are seen as must-win encounters to steady the Super Eagles’ qualification campaign.
Fans in Uyo are already buzzing, with excitement building as players troop in. Hotel staff confirmed that security and logistics around the team’s camp have been tightened, ensuring maximum concentration ahead of the crunch ties.
Troost-Ekong, fresh from another solid season in Greece, is expected to provide leadership to a squad blending experience and youthful hunger, while Onyemaechi’s defensive energy and Obasogie’s shot-stopping ability will add competition in key areas.
With full training kicking off Tuesday and more stars expected to land in camp tonight, attention now turns to Chelle’s tactics — as Nigerians wait to see if this squad can finally turn potential into consistent results on the road to the USA, Canada, and Mexico.
