COUNTDOWN TO BATTLE OF UYO
*Victor Moses, four others missing
Duro Ikhazuagbe
Twenty Super Eagles players trained on Tuesday evening in Uyo ahead of next Saturday’s World Cup 2018 qualifier against Zambia.
Alex Iwobi, Moses Simon, Chidozie Awaziem, Ola Aina and Victor Moses all missed the evening session which had about 200 Uyo fans in attendance.
The training began at about 5pm with the team drawn into two groups having a light workout and doing some ball work.
It ended at 6.20pm under the floodlights, with Coach Gernot Rohr and his assistants fully involved.
But at the team’s dinner at their Meridien Hotel and Resort camp late Tuesday evening, only Victor Moses was still been expected to join the squad.
Super Eagles’ Media Officer, Toyin Ibitoye told THISDAY that the Chelsea wing back was been expected to join the team last night.
“Apart from Victor Moses, all the invited players are here in camp with us now. We are expecting the Chelsea player to arrive camp any time this night,†observed Ibitoye.
Meanwhile, Technical Adviser of the Super Eagles of Nigeria, Gernot Rohr, has said his team will not underestimate the Chipolopolo of Zambia when both sides clash in Uyo on Saturday.
“We are not under any pressure and I am much focused. As a team, we must not underrate the Zambians. I have seen the environment around here, people believe the match will be an easy one for us, but I don’t think so.
“The Zambians are a good team who beat Algeria home and away, so this is a little bit of trouble for us; so, I expect the boys to approach this game the same way we approached the Cameroon game,” Rohr cautioned.
The Super Eagles’ Coach also shed light on why he decided to stick with the core of the players that defeated Cameroon in the last game.
“Yes, it is true that many have questioned why we did not invite new players to the team and it only logical to me, because as it’s been said in Britain ‘you don’t change a winning team’.
“I am confident in the players brought into the squad so Nigerians should ease their fears. I brought back Iwobi because obviously he was injured in the last match and we are happy to have him back and hopefully he will score this weekend as he did in the league in England last Saturday,†Rohr said.
The Super Eagles will host the Chipolopolo of Zambia in Uyo on Saturday and a win will all but seal their qualification to the World Cup in Russia next year.
EAGLES AT TUESDAY’S TRAINING
Goalkeepers
Dele Ajiboye
Ikechukwu Ezenwa
Daniel Akpeyi
Defenders
Elderson Echiejile
Leon Balogun
Shehu Abdulahi
Uche Agbo
William Troost Ekong
Midfielders
John Mikel Obi
Mikel Agu
John Ogu
Oghenekaro Etebo
Ogenyi Onazi
Aremu Afeez
Ifeanyi Ifeanyi
Wilfred Ndidi
Forwards
Anthony Nwakaeme
Odion Ighalo
Kelechi Iheanacho
Ahmed Musa
Players Missing at Training
Victor Moses
Moses Simon
Alex Iwobi
Chidozie Awaziem
Ola Aina
