Nigeria’s Super Eagles B have stepped up their preparations for next month’s African Nations Championship (CHAN) as they aim for a strong outing at the tournament, www.aclsports.com reports.
Head coach Eric Chelle, who has been in charge of the training camp at the Remo Stars Sports Institute in Ikenne since the start of the week, was available to take the squad on another session on Friday evening.
The former Mali coach had his assistants, including Hadi Taboubi, fitness Trainer Thomas Gornourec, and goalkeeper trainer Jean Daniel Padovani, involved in the session that started around 5pm. Meanwhile, assistant coach Daniel Ogunmodede, who is currently outside the shores of the country on a coaching course, is expected to arrive this weekend.
As part of efforts to get the team into top shape, the coaching crew divided the 28 players in camp into two groups. One group comprised defenders and midfielders, while the other consisted of attackers and goalkeepers. Chelle was fully involved in the first session, working closely with the defenders and midfielders. After about one hour of an intense session of combination training, the first group was dismissed.
In the second session, goalkeeper trainer Jean Padovani, assisted by Remo Stars’ goalkeeper trainer Dahiru Dalhatu Ilu, took the four goalkeepers – Kayode Bankole, Ani Ozoemena, Badmus Nurudeen, and Mustapha Lawal – through several drills, while Hadi Taboubi and Thomas Gornourec took charge of proceedings with the attackers with emphasis on goal scoring.
Meanwhile, the NFF has confirmed that Adamu Abubakar, Papa Daniel, Adejoh Ojonugwa, Saviour Isaac, and Waliu Ojetoye are unavailable due to their trips abroad, while Ifeanyi Onyebuchi is ruled out due to injury. Chelle is expected to name some replacements in the coming days.
The 2024 CHAN tournament will be staged in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda in August with Nigeria’s Super Eagles facing Senegal, Sudan, and Congo in their group games.
