By Harry Awurumibe, Editor Abuja Bureau
The much-awaited training of Nigeria’s senior football team, Super Eagles inside the refurbished mainbowl of the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja ahead of their trip to Cameroon for the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) may not be possible after all.
This is even as the re-grassed pitch has been put in perfect condition for the Super Eagles with the goalposts already mounted while the field has been properly lined.
Prompt News has exclusively gathered that the Super Eagles will not be able to training in Abuja because the arrival date of most of the invited players has been extended by the world football governing body FIFA to January 3, less than two days before the team will depart for Cameroon on January 5.
With the bulk of Super Eagles players not expected in Abuja camp till January 4, it has become evident that the three-time AFCON Champions will not have one full training session on the newly regrassed pitch of Moshood Abiola Stadium Abuja.
“The bulk of Super Eagles players will not be in Abuja as earlier scheduled because FIFA extended the date for the release of overseas-based African players including Nigerian players. The team can only train if we have full house when the camp opens on December 29”, a top official of the team revealed on Tuesday in Abuja.
According to the official, it will be difficult for the team to raise enough players to commence training immediately, pointing out that the earliest to have a full house will be from January 4 less than 24 hours to the Super Eagles’ departure for Cameroon.
The Minister of Sports, Sunday Dare recently approved the use of mainbowl of Moshood Abiola Stadium Abuja as training ground for Super Eagles to prepare for the upcoming 2021 AFCON final in Cameroon.
The team will depart for Cameroon on January 5.
