Eagles Set For American Expedition

All players invited by Head Coach Stephen Keshi for Wednesday’s international friendly against Venezuela in Miami, State of Florida have arrived the Super Eagles’ camp and battling for shirts.

 The team trained twice on Tuesday and look very sharp for the assignment at hand, as the Nigeria senior team rolls on ground its preparations for next year’s Africa Cup of Nations finals in South Africa.

 Goalkeeper Austin Ejide, from Israel’s top division, joined the contingent that left Nigeria on Sunday night in Atlanta, and together flew with the group to Miami. Also in camp are defender Elderson Echiejile, midfielders Raheem Lawal, Ogenyi Onazi, Nosa Igiebor and US-based Bright Ejike, as well as strikers Brown Ideye, Foluwashola Ameobi and Obafemi Martins.

 From the original list, Chelsea duo John Mikel Obi and Victor Moses opted out while France-based defender Apam Onyekachi, silver medallist at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, is injured.

Home boys are goalkeeper Chigozie Agbim, defenders Godfrey Oboabona, Solomon Kwambe, Azubuike Egwueke, Benjamin Francis and Umar Zango, midfielder Henry Uche and forwards Sunday Mba, Ejike Uzoenyi and Gomo Onduku.

Wednesday’s clash is only the second meeting between Nigeria and Venezuela at senior international level, with the only previous encounter being another friendly in London’s Watford FC arena on July 26, 2003. Skipper Austin Okocha’s goal separated the two teams that day.

The match will kick off at 8pm Florida time (2am Thursday in Nigeria). CAF appoints Ivorian officials for Eaglets, Mali Match referees for Sunday’s 2013 African U-17 Championship qualifying match between Nigeria and Mali at the U. J. Esuene Stadium, Calabar will come from Cote d’Ivoire.

The Confederation of African Football has appointed Kouame Ndri as the centre referee, with his compatriots Cherif Mamadou Bogbe, Kouadio Oussou and Denis Dembele as 1st Assistant, 2nd Assistant and 4th Official respectively.