{"id":878679,"date":"2025-12-18T23:22:23","date_gmt":"2025-12-19T05:22:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/2025\/12\/18\/afcon-2025-chelle-welcomes-osimhen-as-super-eagles-complete-cairo-camp-depart-for-morocco\/"},"modified":"2025-12-18T23:22:23","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T05:22:23","slug":"afcon-2025-chelle-welcomes-osimhen-as-super-eagles-complete-cairo-camp-depart-for-morocco","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/2025\/12\/18\/afcon-2025-chelle-welcomes-osimhen-as-super-eagles-complete-cairo-camp-depart-for-morocco\/","title":{"rendered":"AFCON 2025: Chelle welcomes Osimhen as Super Eagles complete Cairo camp, depart for Morocco"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Soccer <\/p>\n<div>\n<p><strong>Super Eagles head coach \u00c9ric Chelle has received a major boost to his <a href=\"https:\/\/soccernet.ng\/2025\/10\/afcon-2025-dates-fixtures-group.html\">Africa Cup of Nations<\/a> preparations with the arrival of <a href=\"https:\/\/soccernet.ng\/tag\/osimhen\">Victor Osimhen<\/a> in Nigeria\u2019s training camp in Cairo, completing the squad ahead of their departure to Morocco, Soccernet.ng reports<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/soccernet.ng\/tag\/galatasaray\">Galatasaray<\/a> striker, Nigeria\u2019s most recognisable attacking figure, reported to camp on Wednesday night at the Renaissance Hotel in Cairo, having adjusted his travel plans to link up with the squad earlier than originally scheduled. His arrival comes a day after the <a href=\"https:\/\/soccernet.ng\/tag\/super-eagles\">Super Eagles<\/a> suffered a <a href=\"https:\/\/soccernet.ng\/2025\/12\/afcon-egypt-nigeria-super-eagles-friendly.html\">2\u20131 friendly defeat to Egypt<\/a> at the Cairo International Stadium.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_189738\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-189738\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/soccernet.ng\/app\/uploads\/2025\/12\/imago1067760162-750x501.jpg\" alt=\"Soccer Victor Osimhen and Samuel Chukwueze\" width=\"750\" height=\"501\"  ><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-189738\">Victor Osimhen during the Super Eagles of Nigeria training. Photo by Nsidibe Akpan Copyright: xxIMAGO<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Nigeria are scheduled to fly out of Cairo on Thursday aboard a chartered flight to the Moroccan city of F\u00e8s, where they will base their Group C campaign at the biennial tournament.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Get Our Sports News First \u2013 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.whatsapp.com\/channel\/0029VagMHLcA89MZvw0Btc21\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Join Our WhatsApp Channel Now!<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<h2>Soccer Osimhen arrival completes Super Eagles squad<\/h2>\n<p>Osimhen was the final player to join Chelle\u2019s 28-man squad, with <a href=\"https:\/\/soccernet.ng\/2025\/12\/super-eagles-nantes-awaziem-egypt-lawal.html\">all other invited players<\/a> already involved in training sessions earlier in the week.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_185792\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-185792\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/soccernet.ng\/app\/uploads\/2025\/11\/imago1067760171-750x501.jpg\" alt=\"Soccer Nigeria Super Eagles and Fulham stars Alex Iwobi, and Calvin Bassey\" width=\"750\" height=\"501\"  ><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-185792\">Alex Iwobi, Ademola Lukmon and Calvin Bassey during the Super Eagles of Nigeria final training ahead of 2026 FIFA World Cup, match between Nigeria and Benin Republic at Godwill Akpabio Stadium on October 13, 2025 in Uyo, Nigeria. Photo by Nsidibe Akpan Copyright: xxIMAGO<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>According to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), the striker was expected to take part in the team\u2019s evening training session on Wednesday, after missing the morning workout.<\/p>\n<p>His absence was keenly felt in Tuesday\u2019s friendly against Egypt, as Nigeria struggled to consistently unlock a compact and disciplined Pharaohs defence, despite periods of control and intensity.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_189720\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-189720\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/soccernet.ng\/app\/uploads\/2025\/12\/597940129_122272479362067285_6958188546195455593_n-750x1124.jpg\" alt=\"Soccer Super Eagles in training\" width=\"750\" height=\"1124\"  ><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-189720\">Super Eagles in training. Photo Credit: NFF Comms<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Wingers Samuel Chukwueze and Moses Simon, who arrived earlier on Wednesday, both trained with the squad in the morning session, as Chelle continued to fine-tune tactical details ahead of the tournament opener.<\/p>\n<p>Nigeria\u2019s Cairo camp, which opened on Sunday, served a dual purpose: preparation for the friendly against Egypt and final conditioning before AFCON. While the result against the hosts did not go Nigeria\u2019s way, the technical crew viewed the match as a vital test of structure, fitness and squad depth.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_190108\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-190108\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/soccernet.ng\/app\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG-20251217-WA0007-750x500.jpg\" alt=\"Soccer Nigeria Super Eagles vs Egypt\" width=\"750\" height=\"500\"  ><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-190108\">Super Eagles vs Egypt friendly in Cairo. Photo Credit: NFF Comms<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The Super Eagles squad includes goalkeepers Francis Uzoho, Stanley Nwabali and Amas Obasogie, while defensive options feature Semi Ajayi, Calvin Bassey, Bright Osayi-Samuel, Zaidu Sanusi, Igoh Ogbu and Chidozie Awaziem.<\/p>\n<p>Midfielders Wilfred Ndidi, Frank Onyeka, Raphael Onyedika, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, Ebenezer Akinsanmiro and Alex Iwobi provide balance and experience, with attacking support from Ademola Lookman, Moses Simon, Samuel Chukwueze, Paul Onuachu, Cyriel Dessers, Akor Adams and Osimhen.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_190118\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-190118\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/soccernet.ng\/app\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG-20251217-WA0003-750x500.jpg\" alt=\"Soccer Nigeria Super Eagles vs Egypt\" width=\"750\" height=\"500\"  ><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-190118\">Super Eagles vs Egypt friendly in Cairo. Photo Credit: NFF Comms<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2>Soccer Focus turns to Morocco and Group C challenge<\/h2>\n<p>Nigeria have been drawn in Group C alongside Tanzania, Tunisia and Uganda.<\/p>\n<p>They will open their AFCON campaign against Tanzania on December 23, before facing Tunisia on December 27 and Uganda on December 30.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_190109\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-190109\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/soccernet.ng\/app\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG-20251217-WA0002-750x500.jpg\" alt=\"Soccer Nigeria Super Eagles vs Egypt\" width=\"750\" height=\"500\"  ><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-190109\">Super Eagles vs Egypt friendly in Cairo. Photo Credit: NFF Comms<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Chelle, appointed earlier this year, will be targeting a deep run in Morocco as Nigeria seek a fourth continental title and a response to the <a href=\"https:\/\/soccernet.ng\/2025\/12\/nff-super-eagles-fifa-2026-world-cup.html\">disappointment of missing out<\/a> on qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.<\/p>\n<p>With Osimhen now in camp and the squad complete, attention fully shifts from preparation to performance.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/soccernet.ng\/2025\/12\/afcon-chelle-osimhen-super-eagles-morocco.html\" class=\"button purchase\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Read More<\/a>Imhonlamhen Eronmhonsele<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Soccer Super Eagles head coach \u00c9ric Chelle has received a major boost to his Africa Cup of Nations preparations with the arrival of Victor Osimhen in Nigeria\u2019s training camp in Cairo, completing the squad ahead of their departure to Morocco, Soccernet.ng reports. The Galatasaray striker, Nigeria\u2019s most recognisable attacking figure, reported to camp on Wednesday [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":878680,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[95004,140853,2005],"tags":[95003,140851],"class_list":{"0":"post-878679","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-afcon","8":"category-chelle","9":"category-soccer","10":"tag-afcon","11":"tag-chelle"},"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/878679","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=878679"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/878679\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/878680"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=878679"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=878679"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=878679"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}