The home –based Super Eagles contingent arrived the ancient
city of Kano on Saturday afternoon as Head Coach Salisu Yusuf and his crew
countenance the beginning of preparations for the 5th African
Nations Championship scheduled for Morocco 13th January – 4th February
2018.
Yusuf, also
Chief Coach of the Russia-bound A squad, has called up 30 players for the first
phase of the preparations, in which the 2014 CHAN bronze medallists would test
strength with the nation’s leading domestic clubs in the annual Super
Six Tournament.
Super
Eagles A team’s safe hands Ikechukwu Ezenwa, defenders Stephen Eze, Osas Okoro
and Adeleye Olamilekan, midfielders Afeez Aremu, Rabiu Ali and Ifeanyi Ifeanyi
as well as forwards Kingsley Eduwo, Sikiru Olatubosun and Anthony Okpotu are
among those who will battle for shirts.
The
glamour Super Six Tournament, traditionally organized
to set Nigeria’s flag-bearers in continental competitions in battle mood after
the lull and inactivity of the post –season break, will this year welcome NPFL
reigning champions Plateau United, MFM FC, Akwa United FC, homers Kano Pillars
and Enyimba FC, as well as the Super Eagles B.
The first
matches are slated for Monday at the Sani Abacha Stadium, where the
Eagles overpowered their counterparts from Benin Republic 2-0 on 19th August
to qualify for the 5th African Nations Championship.
Nigeria
will tackle 2014 champions Libya, Rwanda and Equatorial Guinea in the group
stage at the 5th African Nations Championship. The matches of
Group C will be played in Tangier.
Libya
shocked the African football family by winning the 2014 edition in South Africa
at the expense of Ghana, despite the North African nation being embroiled in
political turmoil at the time. Rwanda was the last team to qualify for the
finals, after edging Ethiopia 3-2 on aggregate in a play –off that was
necessitated by Egypt’s decision to forfeit her slot at the championship.
Equatorial Guinea qualified for the finals following the withdrawal of Gabon.
Hosts
Morocco, Guinea, Sudan and Mauritania are in Group A, in the event pitting the
Atlas Lions against Mauritania in the opening match of the competition, at the
Mohamed V Stadium in Casablanca on 13th January.
Hosts of
the inaugural edition of the competition in 2009, Cote d’Ivoire head Group B
that will be based in Marrakech, and have Zambia, Uganda and Namibia as group
mates.
Group D,
based in Agadir, has 2011 runners-up Angola, Cameroon, Congo and Burkina Faso.
GROUP A
(CASABLANCA)
Morocco
Guinea
Sudan
Mauritania
GROUP B
(MARRAKECH)
Cote
d’Ivoire
Zambia
Uganda
Namibia
GROUP C
(TANGIER)
Libya
Nigeria
Rwanda
Equatorial
Guinea
GROUP D
(AGADIR)
Angola
Cameroon
Congo
Burkina
Faso
30
CHAN EAGLES FOR SUPER SIX
Goalkeepers: Ikechukwu Ezenwa; Dele Ajiboye;
Theophilus Afelokhai
Defenders: Stephen Eze; Osas Okoro; Daniel
Itodo; Adeleye Olamilekan; Kalu Orji Okogbue; Ifeanyi Nweke; Nasiru Sani;
Timothy Danladi
Midfielders: Afeez Aremu; Raphael Ayagwa; Ifeanyi
Ifeanyi; Rabiu Ali; Destiny Ashadi; Dayo Ojo; Emeka Atuloma; Douglas Achiv;
Austine Oladapo; Abdulkadir Zango
Forwards: Sikiru Olatubosun; Kingsley Eduwo;
Peter Eneji; Anthony Okpotu; Joseph Osadiaye; Sunday Faleye; Victor
Mbaoma; Mustapha Ibrahim; Gabriel Okechukwu
0 Comments