Arsenal's Alex Iwobi becomes first foreign-based player to arrive in camp for Egypt tie

ARSENAL midfielder Alex Iwobi has become the first foreign-based player to arrive the Super Eagles camp ahead of Friday's African Nations Cup qualifier taking place on Friday after jetting into Abuja yesterday.

 

In a rich vein of form at the moment, Iwobi scored his first Premiership goal on Saturday and made his Uefa Champions League debut earlier during the week. Toyin Ibitoye, the team media officer who confirmed the development, said more players are being expected today and tomorrow.

 

Yesterday, two players were being expected from Turkey yesterday night according to the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF). Chelsea midfielder Mikel Obi was billed to leave London yesterday night aboard a British Airways flight to arrive this morning in Abuja.

 

Mikel will be making his first appearance in the 2017 African Cup of Nations qualifying series after missing the first two rounds against Chad and Tanzania, which the Eagles played in Dar es Salaam. Already, coach Samson Siasia has trimmed down the number of home-based players in camp by selecting just six to join the foreign-based stars.

 

These six players picked included Ikechukwu Ezenwa, Kalu Orji, Chibuzor Okonkwo, Matthew Etim, Ifeanyi Matthew and Oghenekaro Etebo. Femi Thomas and Chima Akas of Enyimba have left camp too after being released to their club for the CAF Champions League match they played in Burundi on Saturday.

 

On Friday, the Eagles face Egypt in Kaduna in the first leg of the qualifier and face them in Alexandra five days later in the return leg. Nigerian football fans believe the Eagles need to pick up at least four points from the two games.