By Rosemary Ugiomoh
Captain Wilfred Ndidi led 15 teammates in Nigeria’s first training session Monday evening in Warsaw. The 3-time African champions are gearing up for Wednesday’s high-stakes friendly against Poland, nicknamed the “White-Reds”.
The game at 58,000-seat Stadion PGE Narodowy will be just the second senior meeting between both nations. The first was on March 23, 2018, when Nigeria beat Poland 1-0 in Wroclaw during World Cup warm-ups. Victor Moses scored the only goal that day.
Both teams missed out on the 2026 World Cup. Poland beat Albania but fell 2-3 to Sweden in the European playoff final. Nigeria beat Gabon but lost to DR Congo on penalties in the African playoff final.
JAt lunch on Monday, 16 players were at the team’s Warsaw hotel: Ndidi, keepers Maduka Okoye, Francis Uzoho, Arthur Okonkwo, defenders Bruno Onyemaechi, Zaidu Sanusi, Emmanuel Fernandez, Igoh Ogbu, midfielders Frank Onyeka, Raphael Onyedika, Tochukwu Nnadi, and forwards Moses Simon, Paul Onuachu, Jerome Akor Adams, Terem Moffi, Rafiu Durosinmi.
Defender Semi Ajayi, whose Hull City just got promoted to the Premier League, and new call-up Abdullahi Bewene arrived after lunch. They missed Wednesday’s session but got warm welcomes from the squad.
Eric Chelle, fresh off winning the Unity Cup in London, ran an 80-minute session in light rain at Stadion Polinii Warsawa. He’s pushing a winning culture despite the off-season timing. “Players have been on holiday for 2 weeks, but the job must be done. We have 18 players now. Everyone must work hard and we’ll go in determined to win,” he said.
Tuesday’s final training happens at the match venue, Stadion PGE Narodowy.
