The Super Eagles camp in Uyo didn’t grow beyond 15 players on Monday as eight of the players, Semi Ajayi, Bright Osayi-Samuel, Calvin Bassey, midfielder Frank Onyeka, forward Paul Onuachu, Maduka Okoye, Alex Iwobi and Ademola Lookman were left stranded in Lagos and Abuja respectively due to the ongoing nationwide strike by the Nigeria Labour Congress, which grounded flight operations, The PUNCH reports.

Ajayi, Osayi-Samuel and Bassey couldn’t board connecting flights from Lagos to Uyo while Onyeka and Onuachu were held up in Abuja.

“The quintet of defenders Semi Ajayi, Bright Osayi-Samuel and Calvin Bassey, midfielder Frank Onyeka and forward Paul Onuachu are already in the country and trying to make their way to Uyo to join the 15 other players already on ground, as the Super Eagles’ preparations for Friday’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying match against South Africa’s Bafana Bafana swing into new gear,” Director of Media and Communications of the NFF, Ademola Olajire said in an email sent at 4:37pm on Monday.

“A total of 15 players trained on Monday morning in Uyo, with head coach Finidi George telling the players afterwards that the three points at stake in Friday’s encounter must end up in Nigeria’s kitty.

“While the quintet (three in Abuja and two in Lagos) is being expected at the team’s Ibom Hotel and Resorts, the trio of midfielder Alex Iwobi, goalkeeper Maduka Okoye and forward Ademola Lookman are expected to arrive in the country on Tuesday (today).”

However, new Eagles media officer, Promise Efoghe, confirmed that Okoye, Lookman and Iwobi had arrived the country but were also unable to book connecting flights to Uyo following Monday’s NLC strike.

“Eight more players including Maduka Okoye, Semi Ajayi, Bright Osayi-Samuel, Calvin Bassey, Frank Onyeka, Alex Iwobi, Ademola Lookman and Paul Onuachu are yet to join the squad. They are in the country but unable to arrive camp because of the ongoing Nigeria Labour Congress strike, which has stalled domestic flights,” Efoghe stated.