Full House As Eagles Gear Up For Congo Clash…,Keshi Happy With Players Fitness

Skipper Vincent Enyeama of Lille Metropole of France and Villareal of Spain Ikechukwu Uche were the last players to hit the Super Eagles Bolton White Apartment abode ahead of the crucial Nations Cup qualifier against Congo next Saturday in Point Noire.

The two players effectively missed out in the day’s evening and only training session but should be available for Wednesday’s session that will again be conducted by Head Coach, Stephen Okechukwu Keshi. Before then all invited players like Elderson Echejile, Efe Ambrose, Ahmed Musa, Emmanuel Emenike, Juwon Oshaniwa, Kenneth Omeruo, John Mikel Obi, Austin Ejide, Raheem Lawal, Godfrey Oboabona, Hope Akpan, Omatsone Aluko, Sunday Emmanuel and Aaron Samuel and Ogenyi Onazi all had lunch with the technical crew before the team set out for the Goal Project site of the National Stadium for the day’s business.

Super Eagles second training session on Tuesday at the Abuja National Stadium, photo credit Ben Alaiya

The training proper lasted from 4-6pm with Keshi taking charge of affairs. Home based stars, Chigozie Agbim, Azubuike Egwuekwe, Christian Osuaguna Ighodalo, Friday Edjidegborie, Solomon Kwambe, Kingsley Sokari, Emem Eduok and Gbolahan Salami were all in full flight during the session.

After some tactical sessions, Keshi chose to play the probables against the possibles to the delight of a sizeable number of fans at the arena. Aaron Samuel was the star of the possibles as he scored a classic goal against Agbim in goal for the probables but goals from Emmanuel ‘Ogbunigwe’ Emenike and Mikel Obi eclipsed his efforts before Keshi called a close to the session. Preparations for the game against Congo continues Wednesday in Abuja with Keshi saying he was totally satisfied with the fitness level of his players and hope it continues like that till match day.

Eagles Camp Bubbles, As Mikel, Onazi, Six Others Arrive

Eagles Camp Bubble, As Mikel, Onazi, Six Others Arrive

…Keshi Replaces Enyeama With Obiazor

Lunch time in Calabar for the Super Eagles technical crew was a delight on Tuesday, as camp suddenly upped to 17, with more players expected before training in the evening after only nine players trained in the morning training session.

Head Coach Stephen Keshi and his assistants were grinning from ear to ear as Ahmed Musa, Ogenyi Onazi, Efe Ambrose, Kenneth Omeruo, Juwon Oshaniwa, Sone Aluko, John Mikel Obi and standin captain Austin Ejide arrive on time to have lunch with the rest of the team.

Mikel’s entrance was particularly hilarious as he came in with hand gloves and asked Coach Keshi if he will need some with the fear of the Ebola disease in mind. “Coach I have up to four hand gloves and if you don’t mind, I can hand one pair to you”, he said jokingly with the rest of the team reeling with laughter.

The spirit in camp in camp is very buoyant with the arrival of the super stars and Keshi says he expects the best from the players on Saturday in the game against Congo.

The national team Head Coach also announced that he has decided to replace Vincent Enyeama, who is absent for personal reasons with Elkanemi of Maiduguri first choice keeper, David Obiazor. “We have been monitoring the Nigerian league and we see that the keeper of Elkanemi is a talent, that is why we want to give him a trial. We will see how it turns out when he arrives camp”, Keshi said after lunch on Tuesday.

Imoke, Ikpeme So Sure Of Eagles

Cross River State Governor, Senator Liyel Imoke, says he believes that the Super Eagles will come out tops against Congo, despite the short time the team had to prepare for the Morocco 2015 Nations Cup qualifier in Calabar, the state capital.

Imoke spoke through Youth and Sports Commissioner, Hon Patrick Ugbe, who also promised that the fans in Calabar will turn out enmasse on Saturday to cheer the national team to victory. Ugbe, added that he was happy with the quick response of the players to national call and was sure that the team will excel.

Earlier, NFF Director of Technical, Dr Emmanuel Ikpeme, who has been pulling the strings here to ensure the comfortability of the national team, said he was impressed by the showing of the players in the morning training session. Dr Ikpeme, who defied the early morning downpour in Calabar to join in the morning training session, said he will ensure that all that the team needs for a victory against Congo are provided, in conjunction with the Cross River state government.

“I am a son of the soil and we have had a very cordial working relationship with the government and people of Cross River state. That should ensure that we come out tops on Saturday because all of us in the team and government are on the same page”.

NFF RELEASES PROVISIONAL LIST OF SUPER EAGLES FOR 2014 WORLD CUP

After weeks of speculation and intrigue, the Nigeria Football Federation today in Abuja released of provisional list of 30 players likely to make it to Brazil for the FIFA Brazil 2014 World Cup.

There are no real surprises on this list, save for the exclusion of Ike Uche, the other major talking point is the return of Captain Joseph Yobo and Osaze Odewingie.

While its a given that Vincent Enyeama and Austin Ejide will get the first two goalkeeper’s slot, the battle for the third keeper’s position will now be between Chigozie Agbim and Daniel Akpeyi.

Also missing from this list is new boy Leon Balogun Brown Ideye and Portugal based John Ogu amongst others.

Now that the dust as settled it is hoped that all hands will be on deck as Stephen Keshi and his wards head to Brazil.

GOALKEEPERS: Vincent Enyeama, Austin Ejide, Chigozie Agbim, Daniel Akpeyi

DEFENDERS: Elderson Echiejile, Juwon Oshaniwa, Godfrey Oboabona, Azubuike Egwuekwe, Kenneth Omeruo, Joseph Yobo, Kunle Odunlami, Efe Ambrose

MIDFIELDERS: John Mikel Obi, Ogenyi Onazi, Ramon Azeez, Joel Obi, Nosa Igiebor, Michael Uchebo, Ejike Uzoenyi, Sunday Mba, Reuben Gabriel

FORWARDS: Ahmed Musa, Shola Ameobi, Emmanuel Emenike, Obinna Nsofor, Osaze Odemwingie, Babatunde Michael, Victor Moses, Uche Nwofor, Nnamdi Oduamadi