Three-time African champions, Nigeria, will end their five-day pre-tournament camp in Cairo, Egypt, and depart for their tournament base in Fez, Morocco, on Thursday (today), ahead of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in the North African country, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
The 2025 AFCON will be staged in Morocco from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026.
Nigeria opened their pre-tournament camp in Cairo on Sunday with 10 players, and the number rose to 27 on Wednesday.
Paris FC forward Moses Simon was the 27th player to join the camp on Wednesday, while Galatasaray forward Victor Osimhen was the last player expected in camp before their departure.
After settling down in Fez today, the team is expected to regroup for the final phase of preparations with the full squad, before their opening game on Tuesday.
The team also faced Egypt in a pre-tournament friendly on Tuesday, losing 2–1 to the Pharaohs.
The hosts took the lead in the 28th minute through Ahmed Saber after neat work down the right by Zizo, whose low cross found the midfielder unmarked for a close-range finish.
The Super Eagles were rewarded in first-half stoppage time when Chidozie Awaziem equalised. Zaidu Sanusi’s delayed free-kick from the right caused confusion between El Shenawy and his near post, allowing Awaziem to nod into an empty net to draw Nigeria level at the interval.
Egypt restored their advantage eight minutes after the restart as Mostafa Mohamed capitalised on a poorly coordinated Nigerian offside trap, continuing his run before rifling past Amas Obasogie.
Head coach Eric Chelle released his final 28-man squad for the tournament last Thursday, recalling goalkeeper Francis Uzoho and striker Paul Onuachu after more than a year away from the national team.
He also handed five new players debuts: Inter Milan youngster and Remo Stars Academy product Ebenezer Akinsanmiro, Israel-based Usman Muhammed, former Flying Eagles duo Tochukwu Nnadi and Salim Fago, as well as Blackburn Rovers defender Ryan Alebiosu.
Nigeria have been drawn in Group C, where they will face Tunisia, Tanzania and Uganda. The Super Eagles will open their campaign against Tanzania’s Taifa Stars on December 23, before taking on Tunisia’s Carthage Eagles on December 27 and Uganda’s Cranes on December 30.
Runners-up at the last AFCON after a 2–1 defeat to hosts Ivory Coast, Nigeria will be targeting a fourth continental title, having previously lifted the trophy in 1980, 1994 and 2013.
Meanwhile, the NFF has announced the launch of the NAIJA 4 THE WIN campaign as the Super Eagles return to continental action for the 2025 tournament in Morocco, reaffirming their commitment to reclaiming the prestigious title for the nation.
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