Nigeria’s Eagles land in Miami for Venezuela

Nigeria’s contingent of ten home-based Super Eagles players and officials on Monday arrived in Miami, Florida, United States of America for an international friendly against Venezuela on Wednesday.

The team, led by Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, President Aminu Maigari, Technical Committee Chairman, Barrister Chris Green and the coaching crew led by Stephen Keshi, departed the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos at about 10:40pm on Sunday night.

Media Officer of the team, Ben Alaiya disclosed in an e-mail sent to P.M.News that the Eagles, who earlier arrived in Atlanta at about 11am Nigerian time on Monday, connected another flight and finally landed in Miami around 4:20pm today.

“After completing immigration formalities, Nigeria’s Israeli based goalkeeper, Austin Ejide joined the team before the contingent connected another flight to Miami in Florida, where the match would hold on Wednesday,” Alaiya said.

The flight from Atlanta to Miami, according the Eagles’ image maker, took about 1hour 20minutes.

“Due to shortage of seats on the Delta airlines, the team travelled in batches with the last group arriving at the match venue about an hour after the first team arrived in Miami at 4:20pm, Nigerian time, (8:20am in America),” Alaiya disclosed.

It was further gathered that the match organisers, who welcomed the Eagles, immediately conveyed the players to their Intercontinental Doral camp in Miami.

“The team had breakfast and lunch and will go for their first training at 7:20pm, Miami time, which is close to the 8pm kick off time of the match in Miami on Wednesday,” he said.

It was also gathered that Eagles Chief Coach, Stephen Keshi, is upbeat about the game and has told all the players invited to arrive at the venue latest by Tuesday morning.

Alaiya hinted that the weather in Miami is quite friendly despite the early morning showers.

“The temperature is about 23 Degree Celsius and the home-based players, who are not used to cold weather are quite delighted at the warm weather in Florida,” The team’s Media Officer concluded.

One of the players, Warri Wolves hit man, Sunday Mba said: “I’m happy about the weather and I believe all the wind cheaters we brought to America may not be needed.”