Eagles Depart For Kigali

Nigeria’s Super Eagles are expected to depart for Kigali at 11p.m. today ahead of Wednesday’s 2013 African Nations Cup first leg qualifier against the Amavubi Stars at Kigali Regional Stadium.

The Federation of Rwanda Football Association, Ferwafa, Chief Executive Officer, Michel Gasingwa, said that on arrival, the team will head straight to Umubano Hotel.

Stephen Keshi’s side will then have a feel of the venue for Wednesday’s match with a training session tomorrow afternoon.

Yakubu Aiyebeni, the Blackburn Rovers of England striker and Ahmed Musa of CSKA of Moscow attacker, are the latest to arrive at the camp of the Eagles in Abuja early today.

This increases to eight the number of foreign-based professionals to hit camp and the mood in camp is exciting.

Dickson Etuhu was the first foreign-based player to arrive after featuring for his team, Fulham in their 1- 0 win away at Queens Park Rangers on Saturday. Joseph Yobo, captain of team and Sani Kaita also arrived the camp yesterday.

Other England-based professionals invited for the game have also arrived the camp. Osaze Odemwinge, who netted a brace in his team, West Brom’s 4-0 demolition of Sunderland on Saturday, is also in camp. Victor Moses, who is hoping to make his international debut against Rwanda, is excited to be in camp and Queens Park Rangers, QPR’s Taiye Taiwo is also in camp.

The trio of Vincent Enyeama, Ike Uche and Joel Obi are expected to join this evening before the team depart for Kigali.

Meanwhile, coach of the Amavubi of Rwanda, Sredojevic Milutin Micho, has revealed that he is not under pressure to beat the Super Eagles of Nigeria.

According to Micho, his Nigerian counterpart, Keshi, is the one under pressure to prove his worth to Nigerian soccer fans that he is a better coach than the former handler of the Eagles, Samson Siasia.

Micho said on Brila FM early today that he has the confidence of playing the Eagles because he is familiar with all Nigerian players.

He noted that though he has respect for Keshi, he is poised to show the world that names don’t play football anymore.

—Francis Achi, Abuja & Bamidele Olowosagba