Ndidi Leads Eagles in First Training Session in Warsaw

Captain Wilfred Ndidi led 15 other players in a first training session in Warsaw, the capital city of Poland, on Monday evening, as the three-time African champions commenced preparations for Wednesday’s potentially-explosive international friendly match against the White-Reds of Poland.

Wednesday’s clash at the 58,000-capacity Stadion PGE Narodowy marked only the second meeting between the two countries at senior level. On 23rd March 2018, during their tune-up games for the 2018 FIFA World Cup finals, Nigeria defeated hosts Poland 1-0 at the Stadion Miejski we Wroclawiu in Wroclaw, with Victor Moses scoring the only goal that night.

Like Nigeria, Poland also came up short in qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup finals. After defeating Albania, the White-Reds lost 2-3 to Sweden in the Euro playoff final. The Super Eagles, on the other hand, secured a victory over Gabon before succumbing to DR Congo after a penalty shootout in the African playoff final.

The players gathered at the Super Eagles’ Warsaw Presidential Hotel at lunchtime on Monday included Captain Ndidi, goalkeepers Maduka Okoye, Francis Uzoho, and Arthur Okonkwo, as well as defenders Bruno Onyemaechi, Zaidu Sanusi, Emmanuel Fernandez, and Igoh Ogbu. Midfielders Frank Onyeka, Raphael Onyedika, and Tochukwu Nnadi, alongside forwards Moses Simon, Paul Onuachu, Jerome Akor Adams, Terem Moffi, and Rafiu Durosinmi also participated.

Defender Semi Ajayi, whose Hull City FC recently won promotion back to the English Premiership, arrived later, receiving warm hugs and fist-pumping from his teammates. Fresh invitee Abdullahi Bewene also joined but both missed Wednesday’s training session.

Coach Eric Chelle, who recently guided the Eagles to retain the Unity Cup in London, expressed optimism ahead of Wednesday’s game. He stated, "There is a culture of winning that we are trying to build in this team, and that mentality is important. You can say that it is difficult to have games at this time because the players have been in holiday mood for about two weeks, but the job must be done."

"We have 18 players in camp now and we will work with that. Everybody must work hard, and we will go into the match with the determination to win," he added.

Coach Chelle drilled his players for 80 minutes under light rain at the Stadion Polinii Warsawa, and the official training session set to take place at the match venue, Stadion PGE Narodowy, on Tuesday.