Olawale Ajimotokan
19 November 2009
Lagos — Super Eagles will begin their chase for Angola 2010 by pitching up a training camp in South Africa. We gathered yesterday that Eagles coach Shaibu Amodu has proposed to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) for players to assemble in South Africa for a pre Nations Cup camp after the Christmas Holiday.
The Nations Cup, Africa's biggest football spectacle will hold in four centres in Angola begining from January 10.
Nigeria which is not seeded will know her group rivals at the draw to be held in Luanda, Angola today.
An official of the national team disclosed last night that Amodu proposed a 10-day camp in South Africa because of the country's proximity to Angola. Out source also said the decision to camp in South Africa was strategic as it would give the Eagles a World Cup "feel" considering that the FIFA World Cup finals will be staged in in the country in June next year.
Amodu's request to camp his players in Africa ahead of the Nations Cup is a break from the norm, considering that the Nigerian national team traditionally prepared in Europe leading to the Nations Cup.
Spain, Holland, Portugal and Germany even when the prevailing weather was at variance with the Nations Cup venue weather conditions have served as the choice destination for the Eagles.
But beyond other reason, Europe locations have always been favoured because of the need to gather the players without travel hitches as most of them ply their trade with European clubs.
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