ALEXANDRIA – The Super Eagles of Nigeria have stepped up training in readiness for their make-or-break Round of 16 clash against bitter rivals and defending champions, The Indomitable Lions of Cameroon on Saturday at the ongoing 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt.

The team had undergone a recovery session on Monday following their shock 2-0 defeat to Madagascar last Sunday which cost Nigeria leadership of Group B and set up Saturday’s mammoth clash against Group F runners-up Cameroon at the Alexandria Stadium.

Following a light work out on Tuesday, the Super Eagles resumed rigorous training on Wednesday at the Arab Academy of Science, Technology and Maritime Transport in Alexandria with fit-again left back Jamilu Collins participating fully after being sidelined with injury since the start of the tournament.

Right back Shehu Abdullahi trained separately from other players as he continued his recovery from the injury he picked up against Burundi in Nigeria’s tournament opener.

But captain John Mikel Obi was completely absent from training with a reported knee injury picked up against Madagascar.

Saturday’s encounter will see the resumption of the rivalry between Nigeria and Cameroon in the AFCON for the first time in nineteen years when an Austin “Jay Jay” Okocha inspired Super Eagles beat the Indomitable Lions 2-1 at the quarter-final stage in Tunisia in 2004.

Although both countries faced off recently in the 2018 FIFA World Cup African qualifying series with the Super Eagles triumphing 4-0 in Uyo and battling to a 1-1 draw against the Indomitable Lions in Yaounde.