Nigeria Super Eagles coach, Gernot Rohr has arrived Nigeria to begin preparations for the 2019 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) last qualifying match against Seychelles, as well as the international friendly against Egypt this weekend in Asaba.
Super Eagles will host Seychelles in Asaba on March 22 and meet Egypt at the same venue on March 26.
Eagles Media Officer, Toyin Ibitoye, said the invited players will start arriving in Asaba Monday, while training will begin on Tuesday.
He noted that the Eagles’ boss and his back-room staff will use the two international games to start building the team ahead of the 2019 Nations Cup holding in Egypt.
“The Eagles coach and his assistants are already in camp, but the players will start arriving for the games on Monday” Toyin said.
“Seychelles will arrive in Nigeria either on Wednesday or Thursday this week for the game.”
Meanwhile, Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Secretary General Mohammed Sanusi cleared doubts and rising speculations about the Asaba pitch.
“I don’t know where stories emanated from in some quarters that Rohr and the players are complaining about the Asaba pitch.
“Right now, we have not had any complain from the coach. Before Asaba was selected for the two games, the NFF as a responsible body had enough conversations with the stakeholders in the game. This is not the first time the players are playing an international match on the Asaba pitch,” he declared.
Expected players for the matches are :
Goalkeepers: Francis Uzoho (Anorthosis Famagusta, Cyprus); Ikechukwu Ezenwa (Katsina United); Daniel Akpeyi (Kaizer Chiefs, South Africa).
Defenders: Olaoluwa Aina (Torino FC, Italy); Abdullahi Shehu (Bursaspor FC, Turkey); Valentine Ozornwafor (Enyimba FC); Chidozie Awaziem (Caykur Rizespor, Turkey); William Ekong (Udinese FC, Italy); Leon Balogun (Brighton & Hove Albion, England); Kenneth Omeruo (CD Leganes, Spain); Jamilu Collins (SC Padeborn 07, Germany).
Midfielders: Semi Ajayi (Rotherham United, England); Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England); Oghenekaro Etebo (Stoke City FC, England); John Ogu (Hapoel Be’er Sheva, Israel).
Forwards: Ahmed Musa (Al Nassar FC, Saudi Arabia); Victor Osimhen (Charleroi SC, Belgium); Moses Simon (Levante FC, Spain); Henry Onyekuru (Galatasaray SK, Turkey); Odion Ighalo (Shanghai Shenhua, China); Alex Iwobi (Arsenal FC, England); Samuel Kalu (Girondins Bordeaux, France); Paul Onuachu (FC Midtjyland, Denmark).
