Nigeria Super Eagles on Saturday evening took to the Stade Roumde Adjia Annexe for their training session as they build up to Tuesday’s clash with Egypt in their 2021 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON2021) group opener.
Barely 24 hours after beating Cameroon’s top division side Cotonsport Garoua 2-0 in a friendly game, the Eagles, led by interim head coach Augustine Eguavoen returned to the same turf with all twenty-six players in camp taking full part with the exception of left back Jamilu Collins who is still not in camp.
After the usual warm-up exercises, the players were divided spontaneously into different groups for some high octane rondo viz pressing sessions while the goalkeepers worked with Alloy Agu at the other side.
After training for about 30 minutes, the team then did a 12 A-side game within a compact area of the pitch where the eleven players that started against Cotonsport along with Peter Olayinka on one side with the exception of Maduka Okoye who sat out the session; Francis Uzoho starting for the Probables.
The Possibles team comprised of the players that lined out in the second half against Cotonsport, meaning that Olisa Ndah continued at right back while Tyrone Ebuehi stayed at left back.
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In the competitive session that lasted over twenty minutes, the Possible team which had Frank Onyeka, Alex Iwobi and Kelechi Nwakali in midfield showed more cohesion and hunger against the Probables with Moses Simon and Henry Onyekuru finding the net, the latter after Uzoho spilled Nwakali’s free kick.
Another highlight of Team Possible’s freedom was Henry Onyekuru and Moses Simon taking turns to nutmeg and go beyond William Troost-Ekong with glee during the 12 A-side match.
At the end of the session, a brief penalty taking exercise was done by few of the players with Uzoho saving three of the five spot kicks he faced while Ekong scored one of the three he took.
The team will train again at the same venue on Sunday evening in their penultimate session before Tuesday’s game against Egypt at the Stade Roumde Adjia here in Garoua, North West Cameroon.
Photo: PoojaMedia
Fisayo Dairo reporting from Garoua
