Nigeria’s Flying Eagles have settled down in Dakar ahead of Sunday’s opening AYC match against hosts Senegal.

The Flying Eagles checked into their four-star Alafifa Hotel in bustling downtown Dakar, not far from the Presidential villa,  around 3am local time, which will be 4am Nigerian time Thursday) after a flight that took them from Abuja via Lagos and Banjul, Gambia.  

They will train most likely at the match venue by 4.30pm local time later Thursday.

Nigeria leader of delegation Rafiu Yusuf said the traditional arrival meeting with CAF officials earlier fixed for Thursday will now be on Friday.

Weather conditions are favourable, warm in the afternoon and not as cold as it was the early morning when the team touched down in Dakar.

“It’s mildly cold, good weather to play football non-stop,” said midfielder Ifeanyi Ifeanyi.

In the meantime, Flying Eagles opponents on Sunday, Senegal, have been busy preparing for the tournament as they have won their last two warm-up matches against both Zambia and South Africa, who are in Group B.

The host nation won both matches 1-0.

Reports suggest they have revamped the squad now handled by former Teranga Lions of Senegal coach Joseph Koto in the last two weeks.