The travel travails of the Super Eagles are yet to be over just a day before the international friendly in Lima against Peru. On Sunday, drug incident at the Murtala Mohammed Airport in Lagos, forced the cancellation of the Iberia Airliner that the Super Eagles boarded to Madrid enroute Lima for the Wednesday international friendly against Peru because it turned out a drug courier was also on board. It was double pain for the team yesterday when it missed its connecting flight from Madrid to Lima; consequently they had to face the humiliation of sleeping in the Madrid airport.
The team had departed Lagos at about 10:30 am Nigerian time and got into Madrid at 4:30 Nigerian time, only to be told by officials of Iberia Airways that they have missed their flight to Lima, which had left earlier in the day. With hopes dashed, they were forced to put up at the Madrid Airport, since they had only airport transit visas and could not be checked into any hotel in the city that parades European giants; Real Madrid.
Provision was however made for the team’s meal in the airport by officials of Iberia and later in the night players and officials moved to an arranged lounge were they put up and had light refreshments before going to bed.
Consoling the players, Nigeria Football Federation President Aminu Maigari told the team’s Head Coach Stephen Keshi on phone to charge the players not to be deterred by events that has almost truncated the international friendly.
Keshi relayed same to his players who vowed that they are now more determined than before to put up a show in Lima, when they confront Peru tomorrow. “My only worry is that the players would not have had enough rest when we get to Lima, which is over 11 hours from Madrid, but I trust my players to give it the best shot on match day”, Keshi said.
Meanwhile, Torino striker, Nnamdi Oduamadi, was the surprise guest of the national team; Super Eagles in Madrid Airport, when he stopped to connect a flight to Lima, Peru for tomorrow’s international friendly. Oduamadi scored one of the goals as his side got promoted to Serie A at the weekend and without waiting to celebrate took the next flight to Madrid en route Peru.
Eagles Head Coach, Stephen Keshi could not hide his delight when the dreadlocked player came to where the Nigerian side was passing time till yesterday to say he was already on his way to Lima and would even get there before the Nigerian side. “First of all I want to say congratulations over your club’s promotion and I must say apart from that I’m impressed that why other members of your club sides are celebrating in Torino, you chose to come and don the green white green colours of your fatherland, God will reward you and I urge you to keep it up”, Keshi said yesterday afternoon.
Oduamadi thereafter spent time with his team mates and left when his flight was called for Lima. He is one of the five foreign based players that Keshi hopes to use in tomorrow’s friendly against Peru. Indications are also that Nwankwo Obiorah was already on his way to Lima, while Ekigho Ehiosun is with the team in Madrid that left for Lima yesterday.
Meanwhile the Nigerian Head Coach has declared that he was happy that a Nigerian was part of the epoch-making occasion. “Congratulations to Mikel and the entire Chelsea and I wish them the best next season.”
He also praised Montpellier striker, John Utaka’s brace that earned the team the French Championat at the weekend. “It’s instructive that he scored two goals days after we invited him to the national team. That will serve as a moral and psychological boost to the national team in the busy month of June. We sure need his experience to take the national team to the next level.”
Keshi relayed same to his players who vowed that they are now more determined than before to put up a show in Lima, when they confront Peru tomorrow. “My only worry is that the players would not have had enough rest when we get to Lima, which is over 11 hours from Madrid, but I trust my players to give it the best shot on match day”, Keshi said.
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