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.

Onazi’s Battle Cry: Prayers, Unity Key To Victory…As Eagles Converge On Abuja For Congo

Super Eagles midfield gem, Ogenyi Onazi, has set his sights on victory in Congo over the host in next weekend’s Nations Cup qualifier but has stated that there are conditions to be met if victory must come Nigeria’s way next Saturday.

Onazi, who was expected in Nigeria on Sunday night, said Nigerians desirous of the Nations Cup ticket must all join hands and pray and that the football community must be united to achieve success. “Once I arrive Nigeria, I will go to my father in the Lord to pray with me, because I want the Nations Cup ticket and I know we can win in Congo. We must also cooperate and forget past differences to achieve our aim”, he said on phone from his base in Italy.

Preparations for the make or break Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Congo Brazzaville in Point Noir is expected to be kick-started on Monday following the arrival of invited Nigerian league stars to Abuja on Saturday, after a highly impressive 1-0 win over Ghana in the maiden Restoration Cup at the ultra-modern Akwa Ibom International Stadium last Friday.

The players who came into camp with Head Coach Stephen Keshi, his assistants and other members of staff of the national team are goalkeeper Chigozie Agbim, Warri Wolves skipper, Azubuike Egwuekwe, Solomon Kwambe, scorer of the epoch making goal in Uyo, Emem Eduok, Nasara United’s Tony Edjomari, Christian Osaghuna Ighodalo, Gbolahahan Salami and new comer Kingsley Sokari.

The players are nested at their usual abode in Bolton White Apartment, Zone 7, Abuja and Keshi said all invited players should be in camp by latest Monday. “We have no time for this game and the players know, so all of them must be here early enough for the trip to Congo”, he declared.

Ogenyi Onazi, photo credit fifa.com

Bobby Breaks Into Eagles Afcon Squad

As predicted by many, exciting Enyimba International midfielder, Kingsley Sokari alias Bobby has broken into the Super Eagles squad for the two remaining qualifiers against Congo and South Africa next week and this is official.

Before now, Assistant Coach, Dan ‘the Bull’ Amokachi had said the player is as exciting as former Super Eagles skipper, Austin ‘Jay Jay’ Okocha, a view also held by other assistant coaches, Hyandonou Valere and Ike Shorunmu. But he also put a caveat. “We must allow our boss, Stephen Keshi to make the final decision”.

Last Friday at the Uyo International Stadium inauguration game against the Black Metoers of Ghana, Keshi had a first-hand opportunity to assess the player and his final verdict was that the player is excellent and good enough for the main team. He subsequently ordered him on the plane to Abuja for the remaining two games and Bobby is presently at the Bolton White Apartment with the rest of the stars from the Nigerian league. Invited foreign based stars are expected to start trooping in from Sunday evening.

Meanwhile, Team Administrator, Dayo Enebi Achor, has said he believes in the ability of the present squad to nick one of the tickets in the group A of the Afcon qualifiers this weekend in Point Noir. “We have a strong technical crew, formidable players and solid backroom staff, coupled with a new NFF that is visionary and focused, I think with hardwork we can get the ticket” he declared.

Eagles Arrive Cape Town, Ready For Bafana Challenge…,Keshi Joins Team Tuesday

Reigning African champions, the Super Eagles of Nigeria, have landed in the rainbow city of Cape Town, South Africa, ahead of Wednesday all important Nations Cup qualifier against host Bafana Bafana.

The team made up of 21 players, technical officials and backroom staff was led into South Africa by NFF, Director of Technical, Dr Emmanuel Ikpeme. The team flew into Johannesburg from Lagos in a South Africa Airways plane. The flight from Lagos lasted six hours before it took another flight to Cape Town for the duel.

Among the 22 players that prosecuted the ill-fated game against Congo Brazzaville, only Elkanemi FC goalkeeper, David Obiazor, did not make the trip. Head Coach Stephen Okechukwu Keshi decided to keep faith with the same squad and the team will have its first training session for the match at 8pm local time, which is 7pm Nigerian time.

Keshi who did not travel with the team on Sunday night due pressing personal issues will link up with the rest of the squad on Tuesday morning. In his absence, Dan “the Bull” Amokachi, will handle Monday work-out. The team is quartered at the serene Southern Sun hotel on the outskirts of Cape Town.

Oboabona, Seven Others Hit Eagles Camp As Enyeama Gets Two Match Waiver

Super Eagles in Philly

The Super Eagles camp for the Nations Cup qualifier against Congo Brazzaville opened on Monday night with Turkey based Godfrey Oboabona being the first foreign based player to arrive camp. He has been joined by Ebenezer Kunle Odunlami, Azubuike Egwueke, Gbolahan Salami, Chigozie Agbim Nosa Igiebor, Uche Nwofor, Ramon Azeez and Solomon Osadunna.

Head Coach Stephen Okechukwu Keshi, his assistants Dan The Bull Amokach, Hyadounou Valere and Ike Shorunmu are also all in the team’s Transcorp Metropolitan Hotel in Calabar, with Keshi insisting that there is no time to waste before the game on Saturday.

He also revealed that he has granted team skipper, Vincent Enyeama, leave of absence from the two games against Congo and South Africa’s Bafana Bafana on September 10, because of pressing family issues. “It’s better we excuse him, instead of bringing him down here without him concentrating for the game. I have asked him to sort himself out and he can join us in the future. For now there is no replacement for him because there is no time to do that” he declared.

Team Administrator, Dayo Enebi Achor revealed that almost all invited players safe for Enyeama are already in the country and will all storm camp on Tuesday. The team will have its first training session on Tuesday morning at the Abraham Ordia soccer pitch inside the University of Calabar.

Vincent Enyeama of Nigeria
Photo Credit: FIFA

Obasi Doubtful…

Super Eagles officials have threatened to report German side, Schalke 04 to world soccer governing body, FIFA if Chinedu Ogbuke Obasi fails to come for the Nations Cup qualifiers against Congo and South Africa.

Team Administrator, Dayo Enebi Achor, who has been working round the clock to ensure that all invited players arrive on time for the games revealed that the German side called to say they have submitted the international passport of the player for the coming Champions League hostilities, which may force the player to miss the games, as the passport will not be released on time.

With five days to the game against Congo, officials are angered by the attitude of the club and may report them to FIFA for appropriate sanctions.