Nasarawa United’s Opponents Storm Abuja On Friday

The Nigeria Football Federation has now received information from the Senegalese Football Federation to the effect that the delegation of AS Academie Generation Foot to a CAF Confederation Cup match in Abuja will arrive on Friday morning.

Generation Foot, a lower division team in Senegal that upset the formbook to win the country’s FA Cup, clash with Nigeria’s CAF Confederation Cup flagbeares Nasarawa United at the National Stadium, Abuja in a first round, first leg match.

The Senegalese Football Federation also confirmed that Generation Foot have elected the option of taking care of themselves while in Nigeria, with the implication that the Solid Miners will also take care of their stay in Dakar in the return leg.

While Generation Foot are campaigning on the continent for the first time, Nasarawa United played in the CAF Confederation Cup in 2007 after crashing out of the more lucrative CAF Champions League.

On Thursday, Nasarawa United FC chairman, Barr. Isaac Danladi, told thenff.com that his boys are in great shape to earn a heartwarming win that will stand them in good stead in the return leg.

“We are not taking this campaign with levity. The Government of Nasarawa State is very keen on the team doing the nation proud, so nothing is being left to chance.

“Our commitment is to take it one match at a time. We will fight for a handsome result in Abuja on Sunday and then go and play our hearts out in Senegal.”

The winner of the fixture between Nasarawa United and Generation Foot will proceed to the second round, to battle it out with Club Sportif Constantinois of Algeria.

On Sunday, Nasarawa United coach Kabiru Suleiman Dogo will be able to call on some of the most impressive actors in Nigeria’s domestic football.

TIMOTHY SIMON OF NASARAWA AND HAMMED JIMOH OF KWARA UTD (3) photo credit LMC Media

Esosa Igbinoba, who was among the top scorers of the penultimate season, is available alongside CHAN Eagles defender Samson Gbadebo, Abdulrahaman Bashir, Philip Azango, CHAN Eagles midfielder Yaro Bature, Thomas Zenke and Philip Auta.

On Friday, Nigerian champions Enyimba FC will take on Vipers of Uganda in Kampala in their CAF Champions League first round, first leg match, while Akwa United are away to Club Mokanda of Congo in the CAF Confederation Cup.

The other Nigerian team in the CAF Champions League contest, Warri Wolves, will host Praia Cruz from Sao Tome and Principe at the Warri Township Stadium on Sunday.

Oliseh picks 23 Eagles for African Nations Championship

Head Coach Sunday Oliseh has released the list of 23 players of the Super Eagles B squad who will seek to do Nigeria proud by winning the African Nations Championship title in Rwanda.

Goalkeeper Ikechukwu Ezenwa, defenders Austin Oboroakpo and Chima Akas, Olympic Team midfielders Usman Mohammed and Yaro Bature and forward Chisom Chikatara headline a list that also includes Enyimba FC’s skillful winger Ezekiel Bassey, former junior international Ifeanyi Mathew and the Sunshine Stars’ trio of Paul Onobi, Prince Aggrey and Tunde Adeniji.

Former junior international goalkeeper Femi Thomas, Shooting Stars’ central defender Jamiu Alimi and former Supersand Eagles’ ace Bartholomew Ibenegbu have also been included.

The Eagles B team, alongside technical and backroom staff, flew out of the country on Saturday afternoon to Cape Town, South Africa, where a 10 –day pre-Championship training camp has been arranged, alongside two friendly games against fellow Rwanda –bound Angola and Cote d’Ivoire on January 6 and 11 respectively. Oliseh arrived South Africa ahead of the delegation.

Nigeria’s Super Eagles B finished third at the 3rd African Nations Championship held in South Africa in 2014, and Sunday Oliseh’s invigorated squad aims to win the Cup in Rwanda on February 7.

The Eagles B will campaign in Group C of this year’s championship alongside 2011 winners Tunisia, Niger Republic and Guinea, with matches to be played at the Stade Regional Nyamirambo, Kigali.

Super Eagles Training in Uyo

NIGERIA’S SQUAD FOR CHAN

Goalkeepers: Ikechukwu Ezenwa (Sunshine Stars); Olufemi Thomas (Enyimba FC); Okiemute Odah (Warri Wolves)

Defenders: Austin Oboroakpo (Abia Warriors); Kalu Orji Okogbue (Enugu Rangers); Jamiu Alimi (Shooting Stars); Mathew Etim (Enugu Rangers); Chima Akas (Sharks FC); Stephen Eze (Sunshine Stars); Christopher Madaki Maichibi (Giwa FC); Samson Gbadebo (Lobi Stars)

Midfielders: Ifeanyi Mathew (El-Kanemi Warriors); Paul Onobi (Sunshine Stars); Usman Mohammed (FC Taraba); Yaro Bature (Nasarawa United); Bartholomew Ibenegbu (Warri Wolves); Ibrahim Attah Salau (Shooting Stars)

Forwards: Osas Okoro (Enugu Rangers); Ezekiel Bassey (Enyimba FC); Tunde Adeniji (Sunshine Stars); Bright Onyedikachi (FC IfeanyiUbah); Chisom Chikatara (Abia Warriors); Prince Aggrey (Sunshine Stars)