Super Eagles players in Calabar ahead qualifier

Abuja –  Seven home-based players and officials of the Super Eagles arrived in Calabar on Monday ahead of the team’s make-or-mar 2013 Africa Nations Cup qualifier against the Lone Star of Liberia.

Ben Alaiya, the Super Eagles’ Media Officer, said on telephone that the team landed at the Margaret Ekpo International Airport in Calabar some minutes before noon.

The team, which left the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, in the 10.30 a.m. Arik Airline flight, will camp at the Metropolitan Hotel in the heart of Calabar.

Alaiya said the technical crew had scheduled a training session for Monday evening at the Abraham Odia Sports Complex, the University of Calabar, “as there is no time to waste ahead of Saturday’s qualifier against the Lone Star’’.

Goalkeepers, Vincent Enyeama and Austin Ejide, and Nosa Igiebor of Real Betis of Spain are among the foreign-based players expected to arrive the Eagles camp on Monday.

According to Stephen Keshi, the Super Eagles head coach, the trio will be joined by the rest of the squad on Tuesday.

Keshi said that most of the foreign-based players, including Mikel Obi, were due to arrive in Calabar on Tuesday because of the problem they had in securing their visas.

He also said that others who had late league matches on Sunday were expected to arrive in the camp on Tuesday.

“All the players will be here on Tuesday and that is so because some of them have little visa issues to sort out with their clubs and we expect to have a full house at Tuesday’s training session,” Keshi said

Keshi at the weekend, named seven home-based players who are to join the 15 foreign-based footballers announced earlier for the qualifier.

They are Chigozie Agbim of Warri Wolves, who is captain of the home-based team and his teammate, Azubuike Egwueke.

Others are Godfrey Oboabona, the captain of Sunshine Stars’ FC of Akure; Henry Uche of Enyimba FC of Aba, Benjamin Francis of Heartland and Kano Pillars’ central defender, Umar Zango as well as Rangers winger Ejike Uzoenyi. (NAN)