The Senior National Team, Super Eagles, arrived in Antananarivo yesterday morning, three days ahead of a must-win 2012 African Nations Cup qualifying match against Madagascar.
?The delegation of 19 players and 13 technical officials, led by the chairman of NFF Technical Committee, Barrister Chris Green, departed from the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja at about 10.30pm on Wednesday night.
At the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport, Head coach, Samson Siasia reiterated his team’s focus, saying Sunday’s game at the Stade Municipal de Mahamasina is priority over the international friendly in Bangladesh on Tuesday.
?“We need to win in Madagascar to have the right spirit and frame of mind for the game in Bangladesh. We need the three points. And we would do everything we can to win it. I don’t even want to think of anything less than victory. If we don’t win that, God forbid, we would not even have the right frame of mind for the game in Bangladesh.
“We want Nigerians to pray for the team, because we have prepared well and we believe it is going to be our day on Sunday. If we don’t win the game, we no go come back here o”, said Siasia.
Midfielder Yusuf Ayila, who was injured in training on Tuesday, did not make the trip to the Indian Ocean island.
Goalkeepers Vincent Enyeama, Dele Aiyenugba and Chigozie Agbim, defenders Chibuzor Okonkwo, Elderson Echiejile, Ayodele Adeleye and Efe Ambrose, midfielders Nosa Igiebor, Joel Obi, Fengor Ogude and John Mikel Obi, and forwards Obinna Nsofor, Victor Anichebe, Peter Utaka, Ahmed Musa, Emmanuel Emenike, Chinedu Obasi, Brown Ideye and Solomon Okoronkwo left from Abuja for Madagascar.
At the other end, in Antananarivo, defender Gege Soriola, who plays for Free State Stars in South Africa, arrived in Antananarivo on Wednesday and was in the party that received the delegation at about 9.30am Madagascar time (7.30am Nigeria time) yesterday morning.
Hours later, forward Ikechukwu Uche, who has scored six goals for Nigeria in four matches since returning from an injury spell in March, flew into Antananarivo aboard a Madagascar Air flight, and was received by the NFF advance party led by Bola Oyeyode, Head of the International Department.
Yesterday afternoon, Captain Joseph Yobo also flew into Antananarivo, to complete a team of 22 players who will battle for shirts for the crucial qualifier against Madagascar on Sunday and the friendly against Argentina in Dhaka, Bangladesh on Tuesday.
US-based midfielder Emmanuel Ekpo is expected to fly to Bangladesh to join the cast for the high-profile friendly.
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