The Super Eagles B team — Nigeria’s home-based national squad — officially kicked off their preparations for the 2025 African Nations Championship (CHAN) with their first training session held on Monday night at the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne, Ogun State.
A total of 21 players took part in the session, which began under floodlights at 7:00 PM. The first group included standout talents from top Nigerian clubs, with 24 more players expected to join camp by Tuesday, as the technical crew builds towards a full squad ahead of the crucial continental assignment.
The CHAN tournament, which features only players competing in their domestic leagues, will see Nigeria compete in Group D, alongside Senegal, Sudan, and Congo.
Opening Camp Roster
The following players were present for the opening session:
Remo Stars: Nduka Junior, Adedayo Olanipekun, Sadiq Ismail, Kayode Bankole, Tochukwu Michael, Sikiru Alimi, Hadi Haruna Rivers United: Abdulrafiu Taiwo, Taofeek Otaniyi, Ani Henry, Egbe Stephen, Aniekeme Okon Ikorodu City: Harrison Austin, Adelani Shola, Ayomide Cole, Leonard Ngenge Shooting Stars: Lawal Mustapha Plateau United: Temitope Vincent Kwara United: Nurudeen Badmos, Afeez Bankole Enyimba FC: Atule Joseph
More players from other NPFL clubs are expected to link up with the squad in the coming days, as head coach Salisu Yusuf and his staff assess options ahead of squad selection for the tournament proper.
Tournament Fixtures and Expectations
Nigeria will open their CHAN 2025 campaign against Senegal on August 5, before facing Sudan on August 12 and wrapping up the group stage against Congo on August 19.
All matches are considered critical, with only the top teams advancing to the knockout rounds. The Super Eagles B side, who finished as runners-up in the 2018 edition and were eliminated in the group stage in 2020, will be aiming to make a strong return to continental contention.
Coach’s Focus
While no official media briefing followed the opening session, sources within the camp indicated that the early focus is on fitness assessment, team cohesion, and tactical shape, particularly as many players are coming off the back of a long domestic league season.
The coaching crew led by Eric Chelle is expected to conduct rigorous training sessions from Wednesday, with practice matches also lined up to test player combinations before final squad trimming.
Looking Ahead
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has emphasized the importance of CHAN 2025, viewing the tournament as a platform to not only win silverware but also identify domestic talent capable of progressing to the main Super Eagles squad.
With the squad set to be strengthened in the coming days, expectations remain high as Nigeria looks to build a formidable team that can challenge for honours and restore its status as a CHAN powerhouse.
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