The Super Eagles camp in Rabat, Morocco, has come alive with the arrival of some key invited players ahead of their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying playoff semifinal clash against Gabon on Thursday, November 13.
The reigning CAF Player of the Year, Ademola Lookman, and Semi Ajayi were the latest arrivals to the team, as confirmed by Super Eagles media officer Promise Efoghe, while nine more players were expected at press time yesterday. The number of players already in camp now stands at 14.
After failing to secure the automatic qualification ticket from Group C, the Super Eagles have another chance to reach next year’s FIFA World Cup via the playoffs. A win against Gabon will set up a final encounter with either Cameroon or the Democratic Republic of Congo to determine which team will secure the sole ticket to the Intercontinental playoffs in Mexico in March.
The intercontinental playoffs will feature six teams from five different confederations, including teams from CAF, AFC, CONMEBOL, OFC, and two from CONCACAF. Among the participants will be nations like Bolivia from South America, New Caledonia representing Oceania, and either Iraq or the United Arab Emirates from Asia, alongside the two CONCACAF representatives yet to be confirmed in November.
The Super Eagles have recorded five wins, three draws, and suffered just one defeat against Gabon. The last time the two teams clashed in the World Cup qualifiers was during the race for the 2006 tournament in Germany. After a 1-1 draw in Libreville in their first group stage fixture, the Super Eagles triumphed 2-0 in the second leg in Port Harcourt.
The players in the Eagles’ camp at press time yesterday are:
– Calvin Bassey
– Alex Iwobi
– Samuel Chukwueze
– Tolu Arokodare
– Olakunle Olusegun
– Wilfred Ndidi
– Moses Simon
– William Troost-Ekong
– Benjamin Frederick
– Chidozie Awaziem
– Amas Obasogie
– Stanley Nwabali
– Semi Ajayi
– Ademola Lookman
