The Super Eagles’ preparation camp in Polokwane, South Africa, ramped up significantly on Tuesday with the arrival of 18 players ahead of Nigeria’s crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Lesotho. The national team settled into their base on Monday and immediately held their first official training session on Tuesday evening, intensifying preparations for Friday’s vital encounter at the Peter Mokaba Stadium. The team understands the gravity of the task, as they are effectively condemned to beat Lesotho’s Crocodiles to keep their hope of qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup alive. The crucial match is scheduled for a 5 p.m. kick-off.
The star power is already evident in the camp with key figures reporting for duty, including captain William Troost-Ekong, striker Victor Osimhen, and wingers Ademola Lookman and Moses Simon. They are joined by midfield engine room members Wilfred Ndidi and Alex Iwobi, along with Samuel Chukwueze, Terem Moffi, and Calvin Bassey. Goalkeepers Stanley Nwabali and Adebayo Adeleye are also present, alongside others like Frank Onyeka, Semi Ajayi, Tolu Arokodare, and Chrisantus Uche. The squad expects six more players to join before the final, full-squad training sessions begin on Wednesday morning. Following the match against Lesotho, the team will fly back to Nigeria to host the Benin Republic at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo next Tuesday, October 14.
Meanwhile, Nigeria’s Group C rival, the Benin Republic, has been dealt a major organizational blow ahead of their own qualifiers after Göztepe midfielder Junior Olaitan was prevented from joining the national team camp. The 23-year-old, who has a strong history with the Nigerian fatherland, was reportedly detained by officials of his Turkish club, Göztepe, at Istanbul Airport on Monday as he attempted to travel to Kigali for the Cheetahs’ clash against Rwanda. According to local reports, club officials intervened, citing that Olaitan tried to leave the city without the club’s necessary clearance, insisting he remains medically unfit after missing their last two league matches due to an injury. While FIFA rules require clubs to release players for official international matches, the Turkish side is within its rights to withhold a player deemed medically incapable of playing, making Olaitan’s absence a significant setback for Benin’s head coach Gernot Rohr, particularly as the midfielder has been a consistent starter for the national team.
