Duro Ikhazuagbe
Nigeria’s legion of foreign-based players have shown their seriousness for this weekend’s 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Zambia in Ndola as all the 23 invited players have arrived Eagles’ camp at the Bolton White Hotel and Apartments in Abuja.
Team Captain, John Mikel Obi, and the other English Premier League players like assistant captain, Ahmed Musa, Brown Ideye and Godwin Obaje flew into the federal capital city aboard British Airways flight from London early yesterday. They were all part of Gernot Rohr’s evening training programme ahead of the battle with the Chipolopolo.
In camp yesterday were: Ogenyi Onazi, Carl Ikeme, Kingsley Madu, Musa Muhammed, Emmanuel Daniel, Ikechukwu Ezenwa, Elderson Echiejile, Nosa Igiebor, Abdullahi Shehu, William Paul Ekong and Alex Iwobi.
Others include; Kenneth Omeruo, Anderson Esiti, Jamiu Alimi, Wilfred Ndidi, Chisom Egbuchunam, Uche Agbo, Kelechi Iheanacho and Moses Simon.
Rangers’ Egbuchulam and Godwin Obaje were last minute call up as replacements for injured Chelsea player, Victor Moses and Isaac Success of Watford.
The NFF yesterday confirmed that the Super Eagles will train this morning before taking on Nigeria Professional Football League side, Plateau United FC of Jos in a friendly match at the main-bowl of the National Stadium, Abuja later this evening.
Meanwhile, for the 20 remaining teams in the CAF qualifying campaign, the journey to the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia begins in earnest this weekend as they play their first games in the group stage.
With only the five group winners earning the right to represent the continent, the stakes are high from the beginning as every team knows that a loss in the first game sees them having to make up ground.
The Group B pairings that have three veterans of the 2010 and 2014 finals, Algeria, Nigeria and Cameroun, will be the focus of football buffs in the continent.
The unfortunate fourth team to join the trio is 2012 African champions Zambia. The Chipolopolo, who missed out on a place at the 2017 CAF Africa Cup of Nations finals, are at home to the Super Eagles who also failed to make the cut in their opener on Sunday in Ndola.
