The Super Eagles had their first full training session last night ahead of tomorrow’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Benin Republic in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire.

The session featured 22 out of the 23 invited players, and according to team officials, the Eagles will have their first official session at the match venue, Houphouet Boigny Stadium, Abidjan, today.

Although there were relieved faces at the arrival of the bulk of the players late yesterday afternoon, some of the officials complained that the players late arrival in camp has disrupted their programme for the game. Before the arrival of 11 new players yesterday afternoon, the camp had only 11 out of the 23 players invited for the game in the morning and therefore the team could not train as earlier planned.

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) officials, Super Eagles coaches, and the sole home-based player, Victor Collins of Nasarawa United, arrived in the Ivorian capital on Sunday, as the team planned to begin training for the game on Monday. But as at Monday, only eight players, including Amas Obasogie, Raphael Onyedika, Frank Onyeka, Moses Simon, Bruno Onyemaechi, Samuel Chukwueze, Gabriel Osho and Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, had arrived in the camp.

Wilfred Ndidi, Kelechi Iheanacho and Maduka Okoye arrived yesterday, while the NFF hoped that the rest of the players would join their mates before dinner yesterday.

An official of the team told The Guardian, yesterday, that members of the technical crew, led by Interim Manager, Austin Eguavoen, were worried by the attitude of the players to the game, saying that the coaches initially wanted to train at least three times before tomorrow’s game.

The source, who pleaded anonymity, said: “The NFF chose to arrange for the players to fly direct to Abidjan to buy time and give the team enough practice sessions, but all that have been rubbished by the players’ late turn up.

The players who trained yesterday evening were Captain William Ekong, Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman, Bright Osayi-Samuel, Olaoluwa Aina, Victor Collins, Calvin Bassey, Alex Iwobi, Alhassan Yusuf Abdullahi, Victor Boniface and Stanley Nwabali.

Others were Maduka Okoye, Wilfred Ndidi, Kelechi Iheanacho, Amas Obasogie, Gabriel Osho, Bruno Onyemaechi, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, Frank Onyeka, Raphael Onyedika, Moses Simon and Samuel Chukwueze.

The Cheetahs of Benin Republic will host the Super Eagles at the Houphoet Boigny Stadium tomorrow. The Eagles need a draw to join the list of qualified teams for Africa’s top football championship.

While Nigeria that leads Group D with 10 points, needs a draw to seal its passage to Morocco, Benin Republic must beat the Eagles and also win their last game against Libya to make the cut.

After tomorrow’s game in Abidjan, the Super Eagles will return to Uyo for their last game of the qualifying series against Rwanda.