Eagles Gather in Morocco: Preparations Begin for World Cup Playoff

The national football team’s camp has officially been established in Rabat, Morocco. Intensive preparations are now underway for the crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup CAF playoff scheduled for Thursday against Gabon. As of Tuesday, 18 players have reported to the camp.

The team confirmed the arrivals via its official social media channel with a post simply captioned, “Eagles in Camp,” alongside the full list of players present.

Key Arrivals in Rabat

The team officials and the initial group of players reached the Rive Hotel in Rabat on Sunday afternoon. This signaled the beginning of the final phase of training for the decisive fixture.

Among the players currently in Morocco are:

• Defenders: Calvin Bassey, William Troost-Ekong, Benjamin Fredericks, Chidozie Awaziem, and Semi Ajayi.
• Midfielders: Alex Iwobi, Wilfred Ndidi, Raphael Onyedika, and Chidera Ejuke.
• Forwards & Wingers: Samuel Chukwueze, Tolu Arokodare, Olakunle Olusegun, Moses Simon, Ademola Lookman, Akor Adams, and Bright Osayi-Samuel.
• Goalkeepers: Amas Obasogie and Stanley Nwabali.

Team staff confirmed that the first arrivals included a core group of key players, such as Bassey, Iwobi, and Chukwueze, alongside Arokodare and Olusegun.

The Road to the World Cup

Head coach, Eric Chelle, previously announced a 24-man roster for the playoffs. This squad features an effective mix of experienced returning players and others who have consistently performed well for their clubs this season.

Notable inclusions involved a recall for goalkeeper Maduka Okoye and winger Chidera Ejuke, both brought back to the national setup following strong showings at their respective clubs.

The national team is set to compete against Gabon in the semi-final clash on Thursday. The other fixture, also held at the El-Barid Stadium in Rabat, will see Cameroon face the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The two winners from Thursday’s matches will advance to meet in the final on November 16. The victor of that final will secure advancement to the inter-confederation playoffs.

Successfully navigating this final stage means earning a highly coveted place at the 2026 World Cup in North America. The national team aims to reclaim its spot on football’s biggest stage, having last featured at the global tournament in 2018.

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