WC play-off: 21 Super Eagles players train for Ghana clash

No fewer than 21 Super Eagles players on Tuesday in Abuja commenced training for the crucial 2022 FIFA World Cup play-off against the Black Stars of Ghana.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the training, supervised by coach Augustine Eguavoen at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, saw the players being taken through their drills.

The training, which started around 7.05 p.m. under the flood lights, commenced with light work out under the watchful eyes of the technical crew.

Defenders, midfielders and forwards later trained in small groups with goal keeper trainer Alloy Agu sharpening the reflexes of the two keepers in camp.

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Coach Emmanuel Amuneke took the players through some tactical drills as they were divided into green and red bibs.

Eguavoen told NAN after the training that the team would continue to fine tune its strategy with the ultimate aim of qualifying for the World Cup.

“The spirit in camp is high as you can see and we will continue to fine tune our strategy for the match,”” he said

NAN reports that the players in camp include: Goalkeepers: Francis Uzoho (AC Omonia, Cyprus); Daniel Akpeyi (Kaizer Chiefs, South Africa)
Defenders: Semi Ajayi (West Bromwich Albion, England); Kenneth Omeruo (CD Leganes, Spain); Leon Balogun (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland); William Ekong (Watford FC, England); Ola Aina (Torino FC, Italy); Calvin Bassey (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland); Abdullahi Shehu (AC Omonia, Cyprus); Zaidu Sanusi (FC Porto, Portugal)

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Midfielders: Frank Onyeka (Brentford FC, England); Joseph Aribo (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland); Oghenekaro Etebo (Watford FC, England), Innocent Bonke (FC Lorient, France).

Forwards: Ahmed Musa (Fatih Karagumruk, Turkey); Samuel Chukwueze (Villarreal FC, Spain); Moses Simon (FC Nantes, France); Odion Ighalo (Al-Hilal FC, Saudi Arabia); Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City, England); Emmanuel Dennis (Watford FC, England) and Victor Osimeh (Napoli, Italy).

NAN reports that Eagles first choice goalie Maduka Okoye (Sparta Rotterdam, Netherlands) was on Tuesday replaced by John Noble (Enyimba Nigeria) due to illness.

The team is expected to jet out to Ghana on Thursday aboard a chattered flight.

NAN reports that the Super Eagles will face the Black Stars of Ghana on Friday in Kumasi in the first leg game with the return leg on March 29 at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja.

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The winners over the two legs will advance to the World Cup billed for Qatar from Nov. 21 to Dec. 18.(NAN)