Newcastle
striker Shola Ameobi, Austin Ejide, Uche Nwafor, Efe Ambrose, Ogenyi
Onazi and Brown Ideye were amongst the first set of foreign based
professionals to hit the Durban, South Africa camp of the Super Eagles
as the players prepare to take on South Africa in the Nelson Mandela
Challenge. There were also returnee Obinna Nsofor and Elderson Echjiele.
The game is billed for Wednesday at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban.
Ameobi who is making his return to the
team after his Nigeria debut against Venezuela in USA said he was very
excited being a part of the Eagles again.
“I’m so happy to be back with this set
of players who always show me love and care and I promise from now on to
always give my best to the team,” he said.
Three players — Mikel Obi, Victor Moses
and Fegor Ogude — are expected on Tuesday morning to complete the list.
The late call-ups — James Okwuosa and Gege Soriola – who are based in
South Africa arrived in camp just ahead of the rest of the team. Both
players replaced Emmanuel Emenike and Kenneth Omeruo for the game.
Emenike who just moved to Fernabahce asked to be excused to enable him
settle into the team while Omeruo stayed away on account of injury.
Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi told the
local media on arrival in Johannesburg that he hopes to give the South
Africans a good game to honour Nelson Mandela, who is undoubtedly
Africa’s foremost nationalist.
He said, “Every match is important for
us, especially against an important opponent like Bafana Bafana and
every match we engage in is very important. So we won’t travel six hours
from Nigeria to South Africa not to be committed to victory.
“I am not God to tell Nigerians the
outcome of the match, but I am sure the players will give their best and
make the country proud.’’
The set of players in the Nigerian
domestic league who travelled from home arrived in Durban from
Johannesburg on Monday morning after a six hour over night flight from
Lagos to Johannesburg. The team led by Keshi had four home stars,
Chigozie Agbim, Azubuike Egwueke, Sunday Mba and Godfrey Oboabona. The
Nigeria Football Federation President Alhaji Aminu Maigari is expected
to join the team on Tuesday.
The Eagles who are staying in Southern
Sun Hotel had their first training session in Durban at 7.30pm local
time on Monday. It’s the same time that the team will train on Tuesday
before the match against Bafana Bafana on Wednesday at 8.15pm local time
(7.15pm Nigerian time).
This will be the third
time both teams are meeting in the Mandela Challenge. Both teams have
won a game each with the South Africans winning the last meet.
PUNCH
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