Nigeria’s Super Eagles have commenced preparations for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations with the opening of their training camp in Egypt, where goalkeeper Francis Uzoho was the first player to arrive.
The camp officially opened in the early hours of Sunday, December 14, at the Renaissance Hotel in Cairo. Uzoho checked in shortly after 2 am local time, marking the start of the team’s build-up to the tournament scheduled to take place in Morocco.
Members of the coaching crew and support staff are already in place as preparations gather momentum. Scenes from the arrivals were shared on social media by sports photographer Sulaimon Adebayo, known as Pooja, showing team officials arriving late at night and unloading equipment and luggage at the hotel.
Uzoho was later seen in the footage entering the hotel, smiling as he wheeled his bags into the lobby.
The decision to pitch camp in Egypt is part of Nigeria’s wider preparation plan, which includes a pre-tournament friendly match against the host nation on December 16.
Uzoho’s early arrival comes against the backdrop of his recent recall to the Super Eagles squad by head coach Eric Chelle. The decision has sparked discussion among supporters and analysts, particularly given the strong club form of Maduka Okoye, who has been a regular starter for Udinese in Italy’s Serie A.
