Italy-based defender Tyrone Ebuehi on Saturday joned up with the Super Eagles squad, ahead of their first Group D game at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Cameroon.
The Eagles will take on the Pharaohs of Egypt on Tuesday in Garoua, in what is potentially the pick of the group’s matches.
The match will hold at the Stade Roumdé Adjia by 5 p.m. Cameroon time.
Ademola Olajire, a Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) official, in a statement on Saturday said the Venezia FC player’s arrival meant that only one player was still being expected by team officials.
Olajire, who is NFF’s Director of Communications, said the only player still being expected at the team’s Hotel Ribadou de Garoua was left-back Jamie’s Collins.
He also disclosed in the statement that the Super Eagles were also officially welcomed to AFCON 2021 by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and the Local Organising Committee (LOC) on Saturday.
“CAF and the LOC on Saturday morning formally received Nigeria to the 33rd edition of the AFCON.
“Though it was a formality, but it was nonetheless an important part of a team’s programme on arrival at a major football championship.
“The Team Arrival Meeting covers several areas of a team’s preparedness and opens a window on what is expected of any delegation while still at the competition.
“On Saturday, CAF’s General Coordinator for the Garoua Centre, Titus Kunamuene led the meeting which covered media, medical, marketing, integrity, team kits and matchday operations,” Olajire said.
He added that Nigeria’s Leader of Delegation, Ibrahim Gusau, expressed the contingent’s satisfaction with the reception accorded it at the airport on arrival on Wednesday night.
“While commending CAF for the hospitality so far, he assured that the Nigeria team will display high level of discipline during the championship.
“Kunamuene expressed delight that the Super Eagles are happy with their accommodation and other logistics provided.
“Team Administrator, Dayo Enebi, then presented relevant documents of players and officials for scrutiny by the CAF team,” Olajire added.
Nigeria will take on seven-time champions Egypt, Sudan and debutants Guinea Bissau in the group phase of their 19th appearance in AFCON.
All Super Eagles group matches will be played at the Stade Roumdé Adjia in Garoua.
In 18 previous appearances at the AFCON, Nigeria has made 15 podium appearances and is being led by Augustine Eguavoen.
He was on-field captain when the Eagles won the title in Tunisia in 1994, and then coached the Eagles to third-place in Egypt 12 years later.
In 2004, he was assistant to Christian Chukwu when the Eagles picked up the bronze medals in Tunisia.
Eguavoen is the only man to have coached Nigeria to win all three group phase matches at the AFCON.
This was when they defeated Ghana, Zimbabwe and Senegal in Port Said at the 2006 finals in Egypt.
His team also bundled out Cup-holders Tunisia after a pulsating penalty kicks shootout in the quarter-finals.