The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has confirmed that the Super Eagles will vacate their current base in Fez on Thursday, January 8, 2026, to relocate to Marrakesh for their upcoming Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) quarter-final. The three-time African champions secured their place in the final eight following a dominant 4-0 victory over Mozambique on Monday night. This relocation aligns with a newly introduced CAF policy for the Morocco 2025 edition, which assigns each participating nation a designated camp for the duration of the tournament.
“The three-time champions will on Thursday move to the city of Marrakech, where they will play the winner between Algeria’s Fennecs and DR Congo’s Leopards in Saturday’s quarter-final duel scheduled to kick off at 5pm,” the NFF stated in an official release on Wednesday.
Preparations for the knockout encounter continued Tuesday evening at the Sardienne Complex, where head coach Éric Chelle oversaw a full squad session featuring 26 available players. The federation noted that defender Ryan Alebiosu remains the only squad member unavailable for selection as he continues his individual rehabilitation program for a leg injury sustained during the group stage. Under the current tournament structure, the Super Eagles will return to their primary base in Fez immediately after Saturday’s match. If they advance to the semi-finals, the team will then travel to Rabat on January 14 to potentially face either host nation Morocco or Cameroon.
Meanwhile, Nigerian team officials have moved quickly to dispel rumors of internal discord following an on-field disagreement between star forwards Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman. Television cameras captured the pair in a heated exchange during the second half of Monday’s win, leading to widespread speculation regarding a rift in the locker room. Team Administrator Dayo Achor clarified the situation on Tuesday evening, emphasizing that the coaching staff and players remain united.
“There is no problem whatsoever in our camp. Whatever people saw as a crisis between two brothers was easily resolved a couple of hours later. All is good and we are presently at training,” Achor explained.
Achor also dismissed false reports suggesting that forward Jerome Akor Adams had abandoned the national team camp. He clarified that the Sevilla striker, who dedicated his first AFCON goal to his mother on Monday night, received official permission for a brief personal visit. “He took permission to go and see his mother who was hospitalized here in Fes, and returned in less than an hour,” the administrator confirmed. With all administrative and personal matters addressed, the Super Eagles now shift their total focus toward Saturday’s clash at the Marrakech Stadium as they pursue their fourth continental title.
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