AFCON 2017: 19 Eagles hit camp ahead of Egypt clash

All the 19 expected home-based Super Eagles have arrived in camp on Tuesday afternoon ahead of the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against the Pharaohs of Egypt.

It would be recalled that Segun Oduduwa, Usman Mohammed and Stanley Dimgba were on Monday barred from showing up at the Bolton White Apartments after reporting late to the camp of the U-23 squad.

The boys, made up of some players from the U-23 squad and 2016 African Nations Championship (CHAN) team started training on Monday as the boys look forward to a victory over the visiting North Africans on 25th March in Kaduna.

Head coach of the team Samson Siasia, while speaking to the press on Tuesday afternoon expressed optimism that the Super Eagles could pick all three points in Kaduna.

 

He stressed that discipline, strong mentality, self-belief and support of Nigerians could steer the Eagles to heights attained by their predecessors, who pounded the Pharaohs 4-0 in a FIFA World Cup qualifier in Lagos in October 1977.

 

Siasia noted: “We can recreate October 1977; why not? The home –boys have come in and full training has commenced. Everyone is rearing to go. By the time the foreign –based players arrive, the competition will be what we want.

 

“I insist that we have invited the players who are capable of giving us the three points in Kaduna and another three points in Alexandria.”

 

Apart from being two points behind the Egyptians on the Group G table, the Eagles also lag behind the Pharaohs on goals scored. The Pharaohs have scored eight while Nigeria have scored two in the two matches played by each team.