Super Eagles B coach, Eric Chelle, is set to announce his final squad for the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN) today, following two weeks of intensive training in Ikenne, Ogun State.
The CHAN tournament, rescheduled to hold from August 2 to 30 across Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda, will feature 19 teams, with Nigeria placed in Group D alongside defending champions Senegal, Sudan, and Congo.
Chelle initially invited 35 players to camp, but the number has since dropped after five players became ineligible due to foreign transfers, while one player was ruled out by injury. Those unavailable include Papa Daniel Mustapha, Waliu Ojetoye, Savour Isaac, Abubakar Sadiq, and Philip Adejo. Rangers International defender Ifeanyi Onyebuchi was dropped due to injury.
Ahead of today’s final squad announcement, the team will play a final test match to help coaches assess the remaining 28 players.
Speaking on the competition for places, team captain Junior Nduka acknowledged the intensity in camp.
“Everybody is under pressure, but the coaches want the best out of the 35 players,” he said.
Former Flying Eagles forward and Rivers United striker, Aniekeme Okon, echoed similar sentiments:
“It puts pressure on us. Everyone is doing their best, hoping to be selected, so we keep pushing.”
The Super Eagles B team will kick off their CHAN campaign against Senegal and Sudan at the Amman Stadium in Zanzibar, before facing Congo in Dar es Salaam’s Benjamin Mkapa Stadium.
Nigeria is yet to win the CHAN title, with their best finishes being third place in 2014 and runners-up in 2018.
