The capital city of Rivers State, Port Harcourt will be agog from tomorrow, Monday, October 5 when all the 19 home-based professionals invited by Super Eagles coach, Sunday Oliseh, open a camp ahead of the 4th African Nations Championship (CHAN) final qualifying fixture against Burkina Faso this month.
All the invited players are expected to report in Port Harcourt on Monday, October 5, ahead of the first leg clash with the Etalons of Burkina Faso at the Adokiye Amiesieamaka Stadium, Port Harcourt billed for Sunday, October 18.
The return leg comes up in Ouagadougou on Sunday, October 25.
All six home –based professionals who will be in Belgium with the full senior squad for the two international friendlies against Democratic Republic of Congo and Cameroon, onOctober 8 and 11 respectively, will join the 19 players on their return to the country on Monday, October 12.
These are goalkeepers Femi Thomas (Enyimba FC) and Ikechukwu Ezenwa (Sunshine Stars), defenders Chima Akas (Sharks FC) and Austin Oboroakpo (Abia Warriors), midfielder Paul Onobi (Sunshine Stars) and forward Prince Aggrey (Sunshine Stars).
The list of 19 invited players include:
Goalkeepers: David Obiazor (Heartland FC); Okemute Odah (Warri Wolves)
Defenders: Kalu Orji (Enugu Rangers); Solomon Kwambe (Warri Wolves); Idris Aloma (Enyimba FC); Samson Gbadebo (Lobi Stars); Jamiu Alimi (Shooting Stars); Stephen Eze (Sunshine Stars)
Midfielders: Abdulrazaq Abdul (Enyimba FC); Ifeanyi Mathew (El-Kanemi Warriors); Usman Mohammed (FC Taraba); Bature Yaro (Nasarawa United); Osas Okoro (Enugu Rangers)
Forwards: Ezekiel Bassey (Enyimba FC); Gbolahan Salami (Warri Wolves); Godwin Obaje (Wikki Tourists); Tunde Adeniji (Sunshine Stars); Bright Onyedikachi (FC IfeanyiUbah); Dayo Ojo (Sunshine Stars).
“We are set for the CHAN qualifying fixture and I want to believe that the players are also in high spirit to be in camp and do the nation proud.
“The coaching crew are also working round the clocks to ensure that the team wins the first leg convincingly in order to make the second leg a mere formality in Burkina Faso.
“All things being equal, we will not disappoint the country and the players have also assured us of their commitments,” said an official of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).
