Members of Nigeria’s home based senior national team, the Super Eagles trained for the first time at the Sani Abacha stadium in Kano on Monday as they buildup to this week’s NPFL Pre-Season Invitational Tournament.
Training under the watchful eyes of head coach Salisu Yusuff and his assistant Imama Amapakabo, there were twenty six of the invited thirty players in attendance at Monday’s training, led by captain Ikechukwu Ezenwa.
Four players: Ifeanyi Ifeanyi, Gabriel Okechukwu (both of Akwa United), Enyimba’s Austine Oladapo and defender Orji Kalu Okogbue are expected to join the team today. The Eagles’ first game comes up on Wednesday against Plateau United.
In a chat with www.aclsports.com after the training session, Yusuf confirmed that former Akwa United midfielder Aremu Afeez has been replaced in the squad by El-Kanemi Warriors starlet Nura Muhammed. Aremu was reported to have joined Norwegian IK Start via Ghana’s Inter Allies last week.
Since majority of the players have been part of their clubs’ hectic pre-season schedule, Yusuf stated that they only had a recovery session on Monday which lasted for about two hours.
Kano Pillars star Rabiu Ali who scored twice for Pillars in the Ahlan Cup final on Sunday was part of the players who trained actively as also Rivers United’s Emeka Ogbugh, a late call up for the injured Joseph Osadiaye.
Katsina United prodigy Destiny Ashadi sat out training due to a knock he suffered during one of his club’s pre-season games.
