. As Coach, assistants hit Abuja camp
BY JOE APU
Super Eagles Captain Mikel John Obi has said he is fully fit and ready for Sunday’s cracker at the Levy Nwanawasa Stadium, Ndola against the Chipolopolo of Zambia while debunking reports of his being injured.
According to Mikel who spoke with thenff.com, he is shocked at reports about him being injured. “I don’t know where the story about my being injured came from. I have no injury. All the other players and myself are fit and ready and we are determined to start the World Cup race on a winning note,” Mikel told the team’s Administrator, Dayo Enebi Achor on Saturday.
Players are expected in camp as from today with training sessions scheduled for morning and evening each day before departure to Ndola by chartered flight on Friday.
The clash between the Super Eagles and the Chipolopolo (who both fought out a memorable Africa Cup of Nations final in Tunis in 1994 that the Eagles edged 2-1) will start at 2.30pm Zambia time (1.30pm Nigeria) on Sunday.
Meanwhile, Nigeria’s Technical Adviser Gernot Rohr and some of his technical assistants on Sunday landed in the Federal Capital, Abuja as preparations kicked off for next week’s 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying match against Zambia in Ndola.
France –based Rohr, who has now been provided with accommodation in Abuja by the Nigeria Football Federation, jetted into town aboard an Air France flight in company with technical assistant Jean Luc Royer and video analyst Nabil Trabelsi.
The team’s backroom staff were early birds at the team’s Bolton White Hotel and Apartments in Abuja, with Chief Coach Salisu Yusuf expected yesterday evening and assistant Coach Imama Amapakabo expected on today, after he picked up Nigeria’s elite League trophy as his table -topping Enugu Rangers hosted El-Kanemi Warriors on the final day of the season on Sunday winning 4-0 at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium in Enugu.
It will be Super Eagles Technical adviser, Genort Rohr’s second match after winning his debut match 1-0 against Tanzania on September in a 2017 AFCON qualifier.
Players expected to arrive camp on Monday are Chelsea’s Mikel Obi, Isaac Success, who scored his first Premier League goal against Bournemouth on Saturday, Carl Ikeme, Kingsley Madu, Ahmed Musa, Kelechi Iheanacho, William Paul Ekong, Kenneth Omeruo, Ogenyi Onazi, Alex Iwobi, Brown Ideye and Elderson Echiejile.
Also, Abdullahi Shehu, Musa Muhammed, Wilfred Ndidi, Nosa Igiebor and Anderson Esiti will join the team in Abuja alongside the the trio of Nigeria Professional Football League player such ); Emmanuel Daniel, Ikechukwu Ezenwa and Jamiu Alimi.
Meanwhile, Nigeria could miss the service of Victor Moses who had an impressive performance in their 2-0 win over Hull City on Saturday and Leon Balogun for the Zambia tie on October 9.