AFCON 2025: 10 Super Eagles Players Check Into Camp – The Real Prep Begins

By: Abudu Olalekan

Cairo is buzzing. The real work for Nigeria’s Super Eagles just kicked off. And honestly? It feels like the whole country is holding its breath.

Sunday morning. Renaissance Hotel. Coaches? Already there. Backroom staff? Settled in. But the camp wasn’t truly alive until the players started rolling in. One by one.

First through the doors? Francis Uzoho. The goalkeeper landed after 2 a.m. local time. Pitch black outside. Yet, there he was. This moment? Huge. Uzoho hadn’t worn the national jersey in over a year. Now? He’s back. Named in Eric Chelle’s 28-man squad as one of three keepers. Talk about a second chance.

Stanley Nwabali followed. Then Fisayo Dele-Bashiru walked in. Ebenezer Akinsanmiro wasn’t far behind. Four players. Just like that.

But wait—the arrivals kept coming. Later that day, six more stars showed up: Amas Obasogie, Semi Ajayi, Ademola Lookman, Igho Ogbu, Bright Osayi-Samuel, and Tochukwu Nnadi. Boom! Ten players in camp. Ten.

Reportersroom can confirm the energy inside that hotel is electric. More players are due any minute. The squad is gathering. Fast.

The three-time African champions aren’t wasting time. Later Sunday, they’ll hold their very first training session. Imagine the drills. The shouts. The sweat. It’s game-time mode now.

And get this—they’ve got a massive test right around the corner. On Tuesday, the Super Eagles face Egypt. The Pharaohs. At Cairo International Stadium. Playing a friendly against Egypt, in Egypt? That’s no walk in the park. It’s a fire drill. A perfect litmus test before the real battle.

Let’s be real. Nigeria heads into AFCON 2025 with a chip on its shoulder. Remember the last tournament? Ugh. Losing that final 2–1 to Ivory Coast? On their soil? Still hurts. The players know it. The fans know it.

This time? They want gold. A fourth continental crown. They’ve done it before—1980, 1994, 2013. But it’s been 12 long years. The hunger is real.

The tournament kicks off in Morocco on December 21. Runs until January 18, 2026. That’s a marathon, not a sprint. And right now, in Cairo, the Super Eagles are building their engine.

Think about it. A camp like this? It’s more than just training. It’s about chemistry. Trust. Knowing the guy beside you will fight till the last whistle. When Uzoho arrived at 2 a.m., he wasn’t just checking into a hotel. He was rejoining a family. A family with a mission.

More boots will hit the lobby floor tonight. More handshakes. More “Let’s get to work.” By the time the squad is full? Watch out, Africa.

The road to Morocco starts here. And Nigeria? We’re ready.