By Amaechi Agbo

The Super Eagles of Nigeria on Tuesday began training ahead of the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations against Leone Stars of Sierra Leone, Bestchoicesports.com.ng can report.

The training which was supervised by the Technical Adviser, Gernot Rohr had the deputy governor of Edo State, Philip Shuaibu in the training session.

It could be recalled that the Deputy governor is a registered member of the state- owned football club, Bendel Insurance.

The Super Eagles take on the Leone Stars at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City on November 13 in a first of two qualifying matches for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

The team will then fly to Freetown for the return game on November 17 at the Siaka Stevens Stadium.

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) confirmed their arrivals on the team’s official Twitter handle on.

Coach Gernot Rohr had earlier revealed that the players invited to the national team for the 2021 AFCON qualifying matches with Sierra Leone were facing travelling difficulties due to a new lockdown in some European countries.

The players affected include Daniel Akpeyi, Leon Balogun, Joe Aribo, Jamilu Collins, Semi Ajayi, Zaidu Sanusi, Kevin Akpoguma, Frank Onyeka, Emmanuel Dennis, Samuel Chukwueze, Victor Osimhen and Chidera Ejuke.

However, the players that took part in the first training session Tuesday night were Ahmed Musa, William Troost-Ekong, Alex Iwobi, Ola Aina, Joe Aribo, Leon Balogun, Kevin Akpoguma, Sebastin Osigwe, Zaidu Sanus and Tyronne Ebuehi

Others are: Etebo Oghenekaro, Maduka Okoye, Ikechukwu Ezenwa, Chidozie Awaziem. Kelechi Iheanacho and Emmanuel Dennis

The German football tactician said he was, however, hopeful of having the full complement of the 24 players called up by Tuesday.

According to the tweet by NFF, Musa who flew into the country from Saudi Arabia, where he recently parted ways with Al Nassr was a surprise visitor at the camp of the Flying Eagles in Abuja earlier on Monday.

“He charged the team to go do the nation proud at the WAFU 2020 Regional Cup before connecting another flight to Benin.”

Musa was joined by Leicester City of England’s Iheanacho and Etebo from Turkish-based club, Galatasaray.

Other early birds to the team’s camp are goalkeeper Maduka Okoye of Sparta Rotterdam in The Netherlands and KRC Genk of Belgium’s forward Paul Onuachu who was called up to replace the injured Moses Simon.