Nigeria’s Super Eagles arrived in Bloemfontein on Sunday evening to a rousing reception ahead of their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying showdown against South Africa, Afrosport reports.
The delegation was welcomed by Nigeria’s High Commissioner to South Africa, His Excellency Tope Ajayi, alongside Sir Adeyinka Adeboye, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Grassroots Sports Development. They were joined by senior officials from the Nigerian Mission, the National Sports Commission (NSC), and members of the Nigerian community in South Africa.
The chartered ValueJet aircraft conveying the Super Eagles touched down at Bloemfontein Airport at 6:25pm local time after a three-and-a-half-hour flight from Luanda, Angola. The journey had initially started from Uyo with a two-and-a-half-hour leg to Luanda for refuelling.
Also present among the official party were top NSC figures, including Alhaji Salihu Abubakar, Barrister Musa Amadu, Dr (Mrs) Kehinde Ajayi, Mr Ebidowei Owiefie and Mr Seyi Johnson.
The Nigerian community, led by their president Mr Smart Nwobi, turned out in large numbers dressed in vibrant traditional attire, singing and drumming in celebration of the team’s arrival.
The delegation was led by NFF President, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau, and included the Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Sports, Hon. Kabiru Amadu, NFF General Secretary Dr Mohammed Sanusi, NFF Executive Committee members, former Nigeria captains Nwankwo Kanu and Victor Ikpeba, a few stakeholders, NFF management staff and media representatives.
Twenty-two players made the trip, alongside the technical and administrative crew. Victor Osimhen was the only absentee from the original squad, having picked up an injury in Saturday’s 1-0 win over Rwanda in Uyo.
The team is scheduled to hold their official training session at the Toyota Stadium at 6pm local time on Monday (5pm Nigerian time), as preparations continue ahead of Tuesday’s crucial qualifier against Bafana Bafana.
