Eagles stars Iwobi, Simon, others land in Austria for Algeria,Tunisia friendlies

Super Eagles will face-off with African champions Algeria on October 9 in Austria

Gernot Rohr will also lead his boys against the Carthage Eagles of Tunisia four days later

Players have started arriving the Eagles camp including Leganés defender Omeruo

Super Eagles of Nigeria will file out against the Desert Foxes of Algeria on Friday October 9 at the Kacques Lemans Arena in Austria and Nigerian stars are beginning to arrive the team’s camp.

The Nigerian team which will also tackle the Carthage Eagles of Tunisia on Tuesday, October 13 at the same venue are camping at the prestigious Jacques Lemans Hotel Die Zeit in St. Veit, Austria.

Eagles coach Gernot Rohr earlier released a 25-man list to prosecute both matches; and according to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) the decision to play the games in Austria is its proximity to the location of most of the invited players who ply their trade in Europe.

Both matches are scheduled to kick-off at 7.30pm Nigerian time respectively and now stars are beginning to troop-in into the camp.

As at Monday afternoon, October 5, players including forwards Samuel Kalu and Chidera Ejuke, defender Leon Balogun and goalkeeper Mathew Yakubu were also in the early birds’ corp.

Hours later, England –based defenders William Ekong, Oluwasemilogo Ajayi and Olaoluwa Aina, as well as forward Kelechi Iheanacho landed in Austria.

Right behind them were goalkeeper Dele Alampasu, defender Jamilu Collins, midfielder Frank Onyeka and forwards Cyril Dessers and Alex Iwobi.

Other invited players were being expected in camp by Monday night as the team begins final preparation for the AFCON qualifying double header against Sierra Leone in November.

Meanwhile, Oghenekaro Etebo has been ruled out of the friendly matches after the midfielder suffered injury at his club Galatasaray.

The 24-year-old managed to play full 90 minutes in his club’s 1-0 loss to Kasimpasa in the Turkish Super Lig on Sunday October 4.

“Oghenekaro Etebo is out of the friendlies. He picked up a knock in his club's game in Turkey yesterday,” said the Super Eagles on their official Instagram handle.

Nigeria lead Group L in the qualifying series having defeated Benin Republic and Lesotho in 2019 to claim maximum points.

Earlier billed for 2021, the African Cup of nations has been shifted until 2022, no thanks to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic which forced football to be halted across the world for months.