18th March, 2013
Governor of Cross River State, Senator Liyel Imoke will on Wednesday host the reigning Africa Cup of Nations champions, the Super Eagles of Nigeria to a lavish reception.
The Eagles and their coaches hit Calabar today to continue their preparation ahead of the 2014 World Cup qualifying match against Kenya at the UJ Esuene Stadium on Saturday.
P.M.NEWS Sports gathered that the reception, which was earlier scheduled for Thursday was rescheduled to Wednesday after a meeting between the officials of Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, and those of the Cross River State government when the Eagles arrived Calabar today.
Media Officer of the Eagles, Ben Alaiya said the “Cross River State government agreed to host us on Wednesday instead of Thursday as earlier scheduled. As I speak with you, we have ten players in camp, nine home-based and Valerenga of Norway midfielder, Fengor Ogude. We are expecting other invited players to hit camp as soon as possible. The team’s first training session is scheduled for 3:30 pm Monday.”
On the transfer controversy surrounding Sunday Mba and the threat issued by Stephen Keshi to drop the player if the controversy is not resolved in good time, Alaiya said that Mba has not let the crisis affect his focus on the qualifying match against Kenya.
Commenting on the complaints by Spartak Moscow forward, Emmnauel Emenike that the NFF and Chief Coach Stephen Keshi abandoned him after suffering an injury at the last Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa, Alaiya said the striker was only being meticulous with the truth. He added that Keshi made spirited efforts to get across to Emenike but these proved abortive.
According to him, “the Big Boss tried all he could to reach out to the player, even Ahmed Musa who plays in Russia with him was also contacted to help get across to Emenike who refused to give us his new telephone number. Dayo Enebi, who is the Team Secretary said he tried to get the new number but he could not succeed.”
—Adebobola Alawode