The Super Eagles camp officially opened on Sunday in Rabat, Morocco, with the arrival of 10 players, as Nigeria begins final preparations for its crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup African playoffs.
The first batch of players and team officials arrived Rabat on Sunday afternoon, signalling the start of what could be a decisive week in Nigeria’s campaign to return to the world’s biggest football stage.
Early arrivals included the trio of Calvin Bassey, Alex Iwobi and Samuel Chukwueze, as well as Tolu Arokodare and Olakunle Olusegun.
Coach Eric Chelle on Saturday finalised his 24-man squad for the playoffs as he named a strong roster of Europe-based stars and local standouts for the decisive fixtures in Rabat.
The Super Eagles face Gabon in the first playoff match on Thursday. A win would send them into the African playoff final against either Cameroon or the Democratic Republic of Congo on November 16th, also in the Moroccan capital.
The playoff round provides African teams with an additional route to the 2026 FIFA World Cup. However, the winner of this series must still overcome opponents from other continents in a final intercontinental playoff scheduled for March 2026 in Mexico.
Nigeria, the highest-ranked of the four teams in this playoff round, are widely seen as favourites to progress — but coach Chelle has cautioned against complacency, stressing the need for discipline and tactical precision.
