Newcastle’s Shola Ameobi is in camp in Miami
All players invited by Head Coach Stephen Keshi for Wednesday’s international friendly against Venezuela in Miami, Florida have arrived the Super Eagles’ camp and battling for shirts.
The team trained twice on Tuesday and looked very sharp for the assignment at hand, as the Nigeria senior team rolls on ground its preparations for next year’s Africa Cup of Nations finals in South Africa.
Goalkeeper Austin Ejide, from Israel’s top division, joined the contingent that left Nigeria on Sunday night in Atlanta, and together flew with the group to Miami. Also in camp are defender Elderson Echiejile, midfielders Raheem Lawal, Ogenyi Onazi, Nosa Igiebor and US-based Bright Ejike, as well as strikers Brown Ideye, Foluwashola Ameobi and Obafemi Martins.
From the original list, Chelsea duo John Mikel Obi and Victor Moses opted out while France-based defender Apam Onyekachi, silver medallist at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, is injured.
Home boys are goalkeeper Chigozie Agbim, defenders Godfrey Oboabona, Solomon Kwambe, Azubuike Egwueke, Benjamin Francis and Umar Zango, midfielder Henry Uche and forwards Sunday Mba, Ejike Uzoenyi and Gomo Onduku.
Wednesday’s clash is only the second meeting between Nigeria and Venezuela at senior international level, with the only previous encounter being another friendly in London’s Watford FC arena on July 26, 2003. Skipper Austin Okocha’s goal separated the two teams that day.
The match will kick off at 8pm Florida time (2am Thursday in Nigeria).