Eagles Land In Monrovia, Trains Liberian President Leads Supporters

The Super Eagles have landed safely in Monrovia, ahead of the final round Nations Cup qualifier against the Lone Star of Liberia on Saturday evening.

The team’s delegation, which was led by Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), President, Alhaji Aminu Maigari departed the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, at about 5:55am Nigerian time aboard an IRS Chartered flight and arrived the Robert International Airport in the Monrovia capital at about 8:30 Nigerian time.

The delegation included 22 players, the technical crew and backroom staff led by Head Coach Stephen Keshi and were warmly welcomed by the Nigerian Ambassador to Liberia, Chi Nnadozie, who was on her way to Kaduna for the Nigeria Defence Academy graduation ceremony, NFF Technical Committee Chairman, Barrister Christopher Green and head international department Bola Oyeyode, who were part of the advance team.

The airport formalities were quite smooth, as Liberians troop our en mass to catch a glimpse of the star-studded Nigerian side, as the team drove for a nearly two hours from the airport to its abode at Golden Gate Hotel in the Liberian capital, where the team will stay for Saturday’s encounter.

The hotel is just a strolling distance from the Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex, where the game will be played. Players and officials were quite pleased with the accommodation arrangement and after settling down in the rooms, Keshi led the team to the Nigerian Embassy for their breakfast, the team returned to the hotel and had lunch at 2:30 Nigerian time, which is 1:30 in Liberia and was scheduled to train at the match venue 6pm local time in Monrovia, which is the same time that the game will be played.

That will be 5pm, Nigerian time. Indications also emerged that the Liberian President, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, will lead the supporters of the Lone Star during the game. The Liberian number one citizen is presently in Kaduna, Nigeria for the NDA graduation ceremony but told the Nigerian ambassador that she will be back on time for the encounter in Monrovia.

Nigerians here in Monrovia, have also mobilized seriously for support, despite the fact that a delegation of supporters club is already on ground. About 2000 Nigerians are expected at the 30,000 capacity SKD Sports arena, waving the green which colours of Nigeria, according embassy officials in Monrovia.