Chelsea and Arsenal products among 17 players in Super Eagles AFCON training camp in Abu Dhabi

Chelsea's Cobham product Ola Aina and Arsenal's Hale End Academy product Alex Iwobi have arrived at the Super Eagles camp ahead of the start of preparations for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.

Former Arsenal development squad skipper Semi Ajayi and onetime Chelsea's longest-serving player on a first team contract Kenneth Omeruo have also reported for international duty.

This was confirmed on the official X account of the Super Eagles on Wednesday morning.

Aina is seeking to participate in the competition for the third time in his career having represented Nigeria in the last two editions and will have to contend with Bright Osayi-Samuel for a place in the starting XI.

Omeruo is the most experienced of the quartet having featured three times at AFCON, with his first being in 2013 when Nigeria last lifted the trophy.

The 30-year-old will be up against Calvin Bassey, Semi Ajayi, Chidozie Awaziem, and William William Troost-Ekong for a starting berth in the central defense.

Iwobi will also be participating in the competition for the third time, having featured in the last two editions.

He is one of the vital players of the Super Eagles and will be one of the first names on the teamsheet, all things being equal.

Ajayi made his debut at AFCON in the last edition which means this will be his second time at the tournament and is set to battle Omeruo and the other players earlier listed for a place at center-back.

Besides the Chelsea and Arsenal products, thirteen other players, namely Calvin Bassey, Chidozie Awaziem, Bright Osayi-Samuel, Ahmed Musa, Moses Simon, Olorunleke Ojo, Ademola Lookman, Joe Aribo, Frank Onyeka, Bruno Onyemaechi, Zaidu Sanusi, Victor Boniface, and Frank Onyedika have also reported for Super Eagles duty in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

Abdulkareem Abdulhamid