W’Cup qualifiers: Super Eagles opens camp Monday

Super Eagles camp for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers against South Africa and Benin Republic will open on Monday June 3.

The Super Eagles will face South Africa at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo on Friday, June 7 before travelling to Ivory Coast to face Benin Republic on Monday, June 10.

While there have been speculations that the team’s camp will be opened this weekend, the Director of Media and Communications of the Nigeria Football Federation, Ademola Olajire, revealed that the camp will open Monday.

“Monday, June 3,” Olajire wrote when asked by our correspondent about the camp opening.

The team is also expected to observe their first training session on Monday.

Last Friday, head coach Finidi George released a 23-man list for his first real test in charge of the team after being unveiled as the substantive coach of the team earlier this month.

Finidi’s list is already witnessing some changes with Italy-based Victor Osimhen ruled out of the encounters with a four-week injury. He has been replaced by Enugu Rangers left-back, Kenneth Igboke, taking the number of Nigeria Premier Football League players in the list to three.

“Africa Player of The Year, Victor Osimhen is injured and out for four weeks. Super Eagles’ coach Finidi George has called up Enugu Rangers’ left-back Kenneth Igboke for the World Cup qualifiers against South Africa and Benin Republic,” the NFF confirmed on Tuesday.

All the invited overseas-based players are done with club activities this season, hence the 23 invited players are expected to hit camp promptly, except Atalanta’s Ademola Lookman, who will still be involved in his club’s rescheduled Serie A game against Fiorentina on Sunday.

The Eagles are third in the 2026 World Cup qualifying group with two points from two matches and need to win both games to get their campaign back on track.