31st December, 2012
Skipper of Super Eagles, Joseph Yobo and his assistant Vincent Enyeama are to arrive at the team’s camp in Faro, Portugal today ahead of the 2 January friendly match against a Catalonia selected side in Spain.
The Maccabi Tel aviv of Israel goalkeeper is due to arrive Faro today after Coach Stephen Keshi gave him permission to play a game yesterday, which comes about six days before the 5 January deadline given to invited players ahead of the South Africa 2013 Nations Cup.
Yobo on his part had asked the technical crew of the Eagles to allow him rest after a tedious season in Turkey. He also used the break to visit some orphanage homes in Lagos, Nigeria.
The arrival of Yobo and Enyeama would bring the number of professional players in camp to 11 today. At the last count, the number of invited professionals in camp include; Kenneth Omeruo, Fengor Ogude, Raheem Lawal, Ahmed Musa, Ogenzi Onazi, Emmanuel Emenike, Brown Ideye, Bright Ejike and Austin Ejide.
It is however a different situation for Ikechukwu Uche as his Division two club, Villarreal have reached an agreement with the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, to allow him shuttle between the Eagles training camp and club games.
Ik Uche was named in the 31-man provisional list for the Nations Cup camping and will be an arrow head in the friendly clash against Catalonia. The agreement may have been necessary because Villarreal are presently struggling.Meanwhile, the Eagles are expected to depart Faro for Spain tomorrow ahead of the tie, while Keshi is expecting at least 11 foreign-based players to feature in the friendly against Catalonia.
Meanwhile, South Africa Coach, Gordon Igesund has settled for experience, as he announced his 23-man squad for the African Cup of Nations yesterday in Johannesburg.
In another development, Ghanaian winger, Andre Ayew has declared that the Black Stars will win the next Nations Cup.
The Black Stars are back in reckoning for the continent’s flagship tournament after beating Malawi back-to-back to qualify in style.
Bookmakers have also tipped the Ghanaians as one of the huge favourites to win the title in South Africa, despite their failure to deliver the crown a year ago in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea. Ayew, who was in Cameroon earlier this week on the invitation of African legend Samuel Eto’o for a book launch, boldly said the Stars will end a long-wait for the African title in South Africa.
“Please, I’m not here to talk about the CAN, it can be done when the time is indicated, “Ayew is quoted by Footafrica365.fr
“But know that we will win this CAN in South Africa,”
The Marseille star is gradually grinding to a steam after a slow start in the French Lique 1 and will be one of the key players for the Black Stars at the continental showpiece.
Ghana are housed in pool B where they will battle old foes Mali and DR Congo as well as less-fancied Niger.