By: Gracious Akujobi
After a dull Monday afternoon, the Super Eagles camp at the Transcorp Metropolitan Hotel came alive on Tuesday afternoon with almost all the top actors already in town, though only 12 of them trained in the evening session at the UJ Esuene Stadium in Calabar.
Among early trainers for the African champions are stand-in skipper, Vincent Enyeama, Chelsea superstar, John Mikel Obi, goalkeepers Ausin Ejide and Chigozie Agbim. New Turkey recruit, Godfrey Oboabona, James Okwuosa, who was the first player to arrive camp on Monday morning, Brown Ideye, Soolomon Kwambe, Benjamin Francis, Azubuike Egwuekwue, Lazio midfield anchor, Ogenyo Onazi, Uche Nwofor, who scored two beautiful goals against Bafana Bafana in the Mandela Challenge.
When the team arrived camp, other players who came in through Abuja were already waiting. Among them, Efe Ambrose, Sunday Mba, whose deal with a French side is now in doubt, Ahmed Musa, Obinna Nsofor and Victor Moses. More players were expected as at the time of this report, but Head Coach, Stephen Keshi has said he is happy with the response of the players and he expects a good game against Malawi on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Cross River State Governor, Liyel Imoke, has assured that the entire state will be out to support the team on Saturday, declaring that he was sure that the team will whip the mouthy Malawians come Saturday.
Imoke spoke through Sports Commissioner, Patrick Ugbe, who had to cough out time of his busy schedule to watch the closing moments of the team’s training on Tuesday evening. “We have his excellency’s support and that of the entire people of Cross River and we are sure that the team will not only win but win well”, Ugbe told Keshi after training on Tuesday evening.
