The Super Eagles return to work in Uyo on Tuesday with more than six points at stake in their two meetings with Tanzania, as Nigeria attempt to recover from a damaging defeat to Guinea-Bissau and keep their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualification hopes on course, Footynaija.com reports.
Head coach Éric Chelle’s 24-man squad is expected to assemble for the first training session after the team’s camp opened on Sunday, November 8. The session will begin the technical crew’s preparations for Friday’s home fixture and the return meeting four days later.
Nigeria’s position in Group L makes the double-header particularly important. The Super Eagles opened their campaign with a 2-1 victory over Madagascar but suffered a 3-0 defeat away to Guinea-Bissau in September. That result left them with three points from two matches, while Guinea-Bissau moved to six.
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Tanzania are one of the three hosts of the 2027 tournament, alongside Kenya and Uganda, and have already secured their place at the finals. Under CAF’s qualification arrangement, only the best-placed team among the remaining countries in Group L will claim the other available ticket.
Chelle faces a two-match test
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) confirmed that Chelle has invited 24 players, with captain Wilfred Ndidi, Alex Iwobi, Ademola Lookman, Calvin Bassey and Taiwo Awoniyi among those selected. Newer faces and returning players also feature in a squad that includes goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo and midfielder Mubarak Suleiman.
Nigeria host the Taifa Stars in Uyo on Friday, November 13, before travelling to Zanzibar for the return fixture at the Amman Stadium on November 17. Tanzania have their own reasons to take the matches seriously, even though their place at the finals is secured, as they prepare for the tournament on home soil.
