W’Cup qualifiers: Full house in Uyo as Okoye joins Eagles

In Uyo, the capital of Akwa Ibom State, Super Eagles goalkeeper Maduka Okoye joined his teammates late on Wednesday night for the pivotal 2026 World Cup qualifiers against South Africa and Benin Republic.

With Okoye's arrival, new coach Finidi George will have his entire 23-man roster available for the pivotal qualifiers against South Africa on Friday and the Benin Republic on Monday.

Eight players, including Okoye, were left stranded in Lagos and Abuja on Monday as a result of the Nigeria Labour Congress' nationwide strike, which suspended aviation operations across the country.

The Nigeria Football Federation was forced to use chartered jet arrangements to transport the stranded players to the capital of Akwa Ibom State because the industrial action disrupted general preparations for the important game.

The federation did not provide an explanation for Okoye's delay in Abuja, so even though the others arrived in Uyo on Tuesday, he was still anticipated.

Eagles media officer Promise Efoghe announced on the team's WhatsApp account that Okoye had arrived in Uyo, saying, "Update: Maduka Okoye has arrived at the Eagles nest." Every one of the 23 players present in camp.

The NFF claims that all of the match officials had flights scheduled out of Abuja on Wednesday, with the exception of the referee assessor Ahmed Sayed Abou Elela, who is scheduled to arrive in Nigeria on Thursday.

Nigeria's two games in Group C have yielded two points, and they need to win both to have a chance to advance to the United States, Canada, and Mexico for the 2026 World Cup finals.

With four points from two games, Rwanda has unexpectedly emerged as the group leader. South Africa is in second place with three points, one point ahead of Nigeria in third.