Mikel, 15 Others Hit Eagles Camp

Golden Eaglets captain, Musa Yahaya (left) in action against Iran, recently.

John Mikel Obi is among the Super Eagles players that have arrived Calabar for the November 16 World Cup qualifier against Ethiopia’s Walya Antelopes at the U. J. Esuene Stadium.

The Super Eagles Media Officer, Mr Ben Alaiya, said this yesterday in an interview with newsmen in Calabar.

According to him, flight hitches have delayed some of the invited players who are already in Nigeria from arriving in the Calabar camp of the Super Eagles.

He, however, said alternative arrangements were being made to enable the players connect flights to Calabar from Lagos and Abuja.

“The players who are already in the camp include Mikel Obi, Bright Dike, John Ogu, and James Okwuosa. All the home-based players are in camp.

“It is a normal process that players would not all arrive the camp at the same time, but arrangements are in place to welcome the super eagles today (Tuesday).

“There is no cause for alarm as all the players will arrive camp for the first training session at 4 p.m today, at the U. J Esuene Stadium.

“There is no closing time yet for camping, as some of the players are still being expected for the team to be in full preparation for the match on Saturday,” he said.

Alaiya urged soccer fans to support the Super Eagles, adding that by God’s grace the team would get the ticket for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

The Super Eagles had defeated the Ethiopians 2-1 in the first leg of the play-offs in Addis Ababa a fortnight ago.

Meanwhile, coach Stephen Keshi has expressed shock that only 15 out of the 25 invited players turned up for the opening day of training yesterday.

The Super Eagles began preparations for the second leg of their 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Ethiopia at the UJ Esuene Stadium in Calabar, and Keshi was not pleased at the turnout.

“I am not happy at all,” he told newsmen. “We talked about this and everyone was expected to be here today.

“But maybe because of flight issues, some people are not here and it will destabilise our programme.”

With Nosa Igiebor ruled out with injury, Keshi expected to see 24 players in Calabar yesterday afternoon.

And the former captain warned that Wednesday was cut-off date.

“Anybody who is not here by today training, is out,” he said.

Skipper Vincent Enyeama and midfielder John Mikel Obi led a posse of early birds in.

The rest included the likes of Victor Moses, Bright Dike, Austin Ejide and Elderson Echiejile, who joined the team at the stadium, where he had a heart to heart talk with Keshi.