Nigeria’s preparations for Wednesday’s international friendly against Poland received a timely boost after Calvin Bassey linked up with the Super Eagles camp in Warsaw ahead of the team’s final training session.
The Fulham defender arrived in the Polish capital on Tuesday, increasing the number of players available to head coach Eric Chelle as the Super Eagles stepped up preparations for the high profile encounter.
Bassey’s arrival comes as welcome news for Chelle, who has had to navigate a number of absences and withdrawals since announcing his squad for the June internationals. The versatile defender is expected to play a key role against Poland, having established himself as one of Nigeria’s most reliable performers in recent seasons.
However, there remains uncertainty surrounding the availability of Alex Iwobi. The Fulham midfielder was still absent from camp as preparations entered their final phase, casting doubt on whether he will be involved in the friendly.
Chelle is expected to oversee a training session involving around 20 players at the PGE Narodowy Stadium, the venue for the friendly. The session follows the coach’s pre match media engagement as the Super Eagles put the finishing touches to their preparations.
Several key members of the squad have already reported for duty, including Wilfred Ndidi, Maduka Okoye, Raphael Onyedika, Frank Onyeka, Moses Simon, Paul Onuachu, Terem Moffi and Akor Adams. Their presence has given the coaching crew a strong core group to work with ahead of the clash.
Nigeria head into the fixture looking to build momentum following their recent success in the Unity Cup, with Chelle expected to use the match as another opportunity to assess his squad ahead of future competitive assignments.
Attention will now turn to whether Iwobi can arrive in time to make himself available, while Bassey’s arrival has already strengthened a Super Eagles side eager to continue its positive run of results on the international stage.
