3rd September, 2012
Super Eagles forward, Ikechukwu Uche and other foreign-based players are expected to hit camp from Monday ahead of the African Cup of Nations qualifier against the Lone Star of Liberia.
The first leg of the must win two legged last round matches holds in Monrovia on Saturday, 8 September.
Coach Stephen Keshi said he is expecting 11 foreign-based players who will fortify the home-based players, who have been in camp for some weeks.
Apart from Ik Uche, who will hit the camp from his base in Spain, other players expected in Abuja are captain Joseph Yobo of Fenerbahce, Turkey, Efe Ambrose of Ashdod FC, Israel and Sporting Braga of Portugal’s Elderson Echiejile.
The others are Nosa Igiebor of Real Betis, Spain, Obiora Nwankwo of Calcio Padova, Italy, Victor Moses, who recently moved from Wigan to Chelsea of England, Ahmed Musa of CSKA Moscow, Russia, Emmanuel Emenike ofSpartak Moscow, Russia and Brown Ideye of Dynamo Kyiv of Ukraine. Goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama will join the Eagles’ camp on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, former Nigerian international, Mike Onyemachara, has charged the Eagles to go for victory in the crucial last round game of the qualifying series.
“I think Keshi has been doing well since his appointment as Chief Coach of the team. I don’t think Liberia will be a hard nut to crack for Nigeria. I expect our team to go to Liberia and come back with the three points at stake,” he said in Lagos.
He advised the Eagles not to underrate their opponents, saying that victory for Nigeria in Monrovia, will make the return leg in Calabar, Cross River State a formality.
“I don’t think a draw will help us as a nation. Keshi should go for an outright victory and qualify us for next year’s Nations Cup in South Africa,” he said.