…NFF confirms 24 players for London
Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari has tasked the Super Eagles to make the country proud at the forthcoming 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.
Buhari, in his address to the players and official of the team who paid him a courtesy visit in Abuja on Wednesday before their departure to the United Kingdom where they will face England on Saturday, appealed to the team to be aware that they are carrying the emotions of over 180 million Nigerians.
“We have a team that is young and I am confident we will do well,” Buhari said in his address.
“Nigerians are solidly behind you so make us proud by giving your best.”
The Super Eagles of Nigeria will face Croatia, Iceland and Argentina in the group stages of the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Football Federation have confirmed that injured Moses Simon is on the way to London with the other 24 Super Eagles who survived the cut on Wednesday.
According to an NFF press release, captain Mikel Obi and 24 other players left on a chartered flight from Abuja to London on Wednesday afternoon.
The Super Eagles will train at the Wembley Stadium (venue of Saturday’s clash with England’s Three Lions) between 5pm and 6pm on Friday, after a pre-match press conference scheduled for the Stadium’s conference room at 4.15pm.
Saturday’s encounter, the third official match between two countries with considerable historical affinity, will start at 5.15pm.
Gent forward Simon, who was earlier ruled out of the finals due to injury, will undergo further medical checks in the United Kingdom to ascertain the seriousness of his injury.
Junior Lokosa, Uche Agbo, Stephen Eze and Dele Ajiboye were dropped earlier on Wednesday.
THE TEAM
Goalkeepers: Francis Uzoho; Daniel Akpeyi; Ikechukwu Ezenwa
Defenders: Abdullahi Shehu; Olaoluwa Aina; Tyronne Ebuehi; William Ekong; Leon Balogun; Chidozie Awaziem; Elderson Echiejile; Kenneth Omeruo; Bryan Idowu
Midfielders: Wilfred Ndidi; Mikel John Obi; Ogenyi Onazi; John Ogu; Mikel Agu; Oghenekaro Etebo; Joel Obi
Forwards: Odion Ighalo; Simeon Nwankwo; Alex Iwobi; Ahmed Musa; Kelechi Iheanacho. Moses Simon (further checks in the UK); Victor Moses (to join team in London).
…Eze disappointed after World Cup snub
Super Eagles defender Stephen Eze revealed that he is really disappointed after coach Gernot Rohr dropped the Lokomotiv Plovdiv star from Nigeria’s World Cup squad.
The 24-year-old has been told by German tactician after the Super Eagles’ 1-1 stalemate with DR Congo on Monday, pruned down his 30-man team to 25, leaving out former Kano Pillars man.
He is, however, one of the five players Kano Pillars striker Junior Lokosa, who made his debut in the encounter, as well as Standard Liege midfielder Uche Agbo and Plateau United goalkeeper Dele Ajiboye not team that travelling to London for the friendly game against England at Wembley on Saturday.
Eze reacted not be among the squad going to Russia he tweeted.
The three times African champions will try England for size on Saturday at the Wembley Stadium, London in a friendly encounter before they wrap up their preparation for the global tournament with a game against Czech Republic on June 6.
