AFCON 2021: Awoniyi, two other players arrive Super Eagles camp

The ex-Liverpool striker is one of the early birds at Nigeria’s camp, which opened on December 29 in the country’s capital 

FC Union Berlin striker Taiwo Awoniyi is one of the three players that have arrived at the Super Eagles camp in Abuja.

The Super Eagles opened camp on Wednesday ahead of the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations, which begins on January 9 in Cameroon.

While most of the players will not arrive until the new year, there were still three arrivals on the opening day of camp.

Awoniyi was one of the three players, with the others being Olisa Ndah of Orlando Pirates and John Noble of Enyimba.

Awoniyi arrived early as the German Bundesliga is currently on a winter break and will not resume until January 7, two days before AFCON start.

The 24-year-old has been one of Nigeria’s best players in Europe’s top five leagues this season, with nine goals and one assist in 17 league games for Union Berlin this season.

This is Awoniyi’s second call-up, and he will hope to make the best of it as the Super Eagles go for a fourth continental title in Cameroon.

Meanwhile, Ndah, one of the new players in the 28-man squad, will hope to make a good first impression on the coaches in the absence of the regular centre-backs.

Another player expected in camp before the turn of the year is CSKA Moscow’s Chidera Ejuke. Moses Simon, Maduka Okoye, Joe Aribo and Leon Balogun are also likely to arrive before the new year.

However, the Premier League and La Liga players will not arrive until the new year.

The Super Eagles begin their group stage campaign with a clash against the Pharaohs of Egypt on January 11.