Ambrose, Onazi join Eagles as they fly out

 

Efe Ambrose

Efe Ambrose and Ogenyi Onazi became the last two players to join the Super Eagles camp in Nuremberg, Germany out of those expected to be in the European country before the team leave for the United States. There were already 21 players by Monday morning before the pair linked up with the rest of the squad.

Both players had stayed back with their clubs to complete their cup games before joining the Eagles. On Sunday Ambrose made it double with Celtic, winning the Scottish Cup just as Onazi also won the Italian Cup with Lazio. Those picked by Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi for the friendly match against Mexico on Friday are billed to fly out to the USA by Tuesday morning, the Nigeria Football Federation confirmed on Monday. Brown Ideye who was also permitted to hang on for a while with his club will join the team in America just before the game in Houston. The friendly is part of Nigeria’s preparation for the 2014 World Cup qualifiers against Kenya and Namibia and the Confederations Cup in Brazil.

Goalkeepers Vincent Enyeama, Austin Ejide, Chigozie Agbim and Daniel Akpeyi were already in camp by Sunday night. There were also Solomon Kwambe, Elderson Echiejile, Godfrey Oboabona, Kenneth Omeruo,  Azubuike Egwuekwe, Sunday Mba, John Ogwu, Nnamdi Oduamadi and Joseph Akpala.

“There is very good team spirit in camp and I am quite happy about that. Everyone is in great shape and rearing to go. But we’re not going with everybody to the USA, although I would have loved to take everyone. There has been huge dedication and commitment here and I’m sure that those we will pick for the match against Mexico will do Nigeria proud,” Keshi said of the final cut expected at departure time.

Apart from those ready for the game against the Mexicans at the Reliant Stadium, Houston, Texas on Friday, Keshi expects to have midfielders Mikel Obi and Fegor Ogude and forward Ahmed Musa for the two World Cup qualifiers and the Confederations Cup tournament in Brazil. The trio will be waiting to join the delegation in Frankfurt, Germany after the friendly in America. After much suspense on his availability for the matches, Mikel eventually made a personal commitment to the coach on Saturday.

Some other regulars like Victor Moses and Emmanuel Emenike have been ruled out from the series of matches on account of injuries.