Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong, defender Bruno Onyemaechi, and goalkeeper Amas Obasogie have become the first set of players to arrive in Uyo ahead of Nigeria’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Rwanda.
Bold Sports, present at the Victor Attah International Airport, observed the early arrivals on Monday, with more players expected to join camp in the coming hours as preparations intensify.
Head coach Eric Chelle named a 23-man squad for the qualifiers, which includes the clash against Rwanda and the subsequent game against South Africa. The list features top names like Victor Osimhen and goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali, who has been passed fit after recovering from a minor injury scare.
Nigeria currently sit fourth in Group D after an underwhelming start to the qualifiers, recording one win, four draws, and one defeat. South Africa lead the group with 13 points, while Rwanda and Benin occupy second and third positions with eight points each.
The Super Eagles thus face a must-win encounter when they host Rwanda at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo on Saturday, September 6, before traveling to South Africa for another crucial clash on September 9.
Rwanda have also confirmed their final squad for the game and are expected to arrive in Lagos on Tuesday afternoon, from where they will connect to Uyo to finalise preparations for the all-important fixture.
The two sides last met in March during Matchday 5, when the Super Eagles secured a 2-0 victory in Kigali. However, the Amavubi will take confidence from their stunning 2-1 comeback win in Uyo last year during the AFCON 2025 qualifiers, even though the result was not enough to seal their qualification. Kick-off for Saturday’s showdown is scheduled for 5 pm Nigerian time.