Eagles stars in, head for Calabar

Shola Ameobi

Newcastle striker Shola Ameobi leads the list of Super Eagles players spotted in Nigeria on Monday as the camping resumes in Calabar for the final qualifying match against Ethiopia on Saturday. The PUNCH checks at the Metropolitan Transcorp Hotel in Calabar by 9.45pm on Monday confirmed that none of the foreign-based players had arrived in the city even though Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi and his assistants had already moved in days before the arrival date.

Our correspondent learnt that those from outside the country were cleared to arrive in Calabar by Tuesday as many of them featured for their clubs in league matches across Europe over the weekend.

The spokesperson for the Nigeria Football Federation Ademola Olajire, who spoke with The PUNCH, said everything was going as originally planned.

He said, “They (foreign-based players) are not in Calabar now because they don’t have direct flights from their bases to Calabar but players are already arriving. I am sure that by this same time on Tuesday it will be a completely different picture from what we have. But the camp has opened and those joining from the professional league here are already in Calabar.”

The first training for the match on Saturday is billed for Tuesday.

But as the other players enter town, Nosa Igiebor has ruled himself out of the clash and will now undergo surgery for a groin problem. The Real Betis midfielder, who missed this weekend’s La Liga match against Barcelona, will undergo an operation this week, according to his club’s official website.

 Igiebor at the weekend suffered a relapse of a groin injury he sustained last week while training with his team.

 The player, who last week returned to training with his club, told MTNFootball.com he was disappointed that he would not be part of the team to face Ethiopia.

“It’s really sad, I was happy returning from the minor groin  problem but a relapse occured,” he said.

 ”I really wanted to be a part of history this weekend when we qualify for the World Cup, but I trust that my colleagues will get the job done this weekend.”

Team officials had earlier expressed doubts over his availability for Saturday’s clash. The PUNCH has learnt that there will not be any replacement for the midfielder as the Super Eagles squad already has enough players who can fit in adequately into his role.

The match is the last before the flight to Brazil 2014 World Cup. Nigeria defeated Ethiopia 2-1 in Addis Ababa last month to take advantage going into the match. Whereas the Ethiopians need at least a two-goals difference win to eliminate Nigeria, a simple draw is enough for the Super Eagles to berth in Brazil.