Mandela Challenge: Eagles in South Africa

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