Super Eagles Camp Opens Oct. 6 for Ethiopia/Nigeria showdown

The Nigeria Football Association (NFA) on Wednesday said the Super Eagles would open camp in Abuja on Sunday, Oct. 6 for preparations against the Walya Antelopes of Ethiopia.

Musa Amadu, the association’s Secretary-General, in Abuja said that Nigeria could not afford to take things for granted in the crucial World Cup playoff.

The first leg tie of the 2014 Brazil World Cup Playoff between Nigeria and Ethiopia will hold in Addis Ababa on Sunday, Oct. 13.

Amadu said the Eagles would be expected to train in Abuja from Oct. 7 to Oct. 11, before departing for Addis Ababa aboard a chartered flight on Oct. 12.

He said the NFA was liaising with the National Sports Commission (NSC) to make the Abuja National Stadium available for the Eagles to train in.

“This game is very critical to us and we are giving it all the seriousness it deserves. We are doing all we can to secure entry visas for the delegation and team officials before departure.

“You know the Ethiopians are eager to qualify for their first-ever World Cup finals and, because they are playing against the African champions, they will prepare seriously,’’ Amadu said.

He added that arrangements had been made for the Nigerian Ambassador to Ethiopia to meet with the country’s advance party in Addis Ababa, before the arrival of the main delegation.

“This will enable the Nigerian contingent to put all necessary requirements in place before the match, so as to enhance Nigeria’s chances of picking the maximum points at stake,’’ the NFA secretary-general said.

He disclosed also that the NFA was working towards making the return leg game in Calabar on Nov. 16 an easy game for Nigeria.

 

Super Eagles’ head coach Stephen Keshi had on Sept. 20 released a 23-man list for the Oct. 13 match against Ethiopia.

There were no new additions to the squad which defeated Malawi 2-0 in Calabar, as Keshi decided to stick with the same team which secured the playoff berth.

The list has goalkeepers Vincent Enyeama, Austin Ejide and Chigozie Agbim, as well as strikers Ahmed Musa, Brown Ideye, Shola Ameobi, Emmanuel Emenike, Obinna Nsofor and Uche Nwofor.

The defenders are Elderson Echiejile, Francis Benjamin, Efe Ambrose, Solomon Kwambe, Godfrey Oboabona, Azubuike Egwuekwe and James Okwuosa.

The invited midfielders are Mikel Obi, John Ogu, Ogenyi Onazi, Nosa Igiebor, Victor Moses, Sunday Mba and Nnamdi Oduamadi.

NFF, Eagles resolve bonus row

The bonus row between the Super Eagles players and the Nigeria Football Federation was amicably resolved after both parties agreed to bury the hatchet and let sleeping dogs lie till after the Confederations Cup hostilities.

An elated Team Secretary, Dayo Eenbi Achor said late Thursday that what happened was a mild misunderstanding that have since been resolved and the team will now fly out to Brazil on Saturday morning.

NFF President Alhaji Aminu Maigari has already said the players have a right to demand for higher bonuses but the federation is compelled to work within the budget at its disposal.

He noted that at the moment the reason for the bonus row was as a result of funds paucity. “And the Chairman of the National Sports Commission and Sports Minister, Mallam Bolaji Abdulahi has given us his words that all will be well financially in the coming days and that is why we have appealed to the players to understand the situation”.

Also speaking on the situation, Sports Marketing icon, Mike Itemuagbor, called on the Federal government to intervene in the financial situation facing the football federation. 

"When some backroom staff were laid off it was like a joke, now players are revolting, we must save the NFF and Nigeria from this embarrassment because football is capital intensive but it’s a major image booster or all big nations and the government must take it serious".

The Super Eagles will now have an official training on Sunday on time for its game against Tahiti on Monday in the Confederations Cup championship.