Vanguard (Lagos)

Nigeria: Afcon - Eagles Arrive Jo'burg, Begin Training

Photo: Barry Aldworth/BackpagePix
Sunday Mba after scoring Nigeria's winning goal against Burkina Faso in the final of the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations in Johannesburg.

After a Comprehensive 4-1 semi-final victory over Aiglons of Mali on Wednesday in Durban, the Super Eagles have quickly put the victory behind them as the team arrived Johannesburg, South Africa on Thursday afternoon to begin preparations for the final on Sunday at the Soccer City in Soweto.

The team arrived Johannesburg at about 1:45pm local time aboard a South Africa Airway plane. In the plane with the team were NFF Executive Committee member, Deji Tinubu, Technical Director, Dr Emmanuel Ikpeme and Special Adviser to Lagos state Governor, Prince Wale Oladunjoye among other dignitaries.

The team was immediately ferried to its abode at Garden Court Milpark from the airport and after having lunch, got set for the day's business of training.

The team had its first training session at 6.30pm local time yesterday, with Head Coach Stephen Keshi saying there was no time to waste ahead of Sunday's all important final which is expected to be watched by several Nigerian and international dignitaries including Nigerian President, Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, FIFA President Sepp Blatter and South African President Jacob Zuma.

Keshi has meanwhile, said there should be no panic over the duo of Victor Moses and Emmanuel Emenike, who picked up knocks in the semi-final duel against Mali.

"The medical team here is working round the clock to ensure that they will be ready for the final on Sunday and they will advise us on what to do at the appropriate time", he said.

NFF President Aminu Maigari, has meanwhile assured that the entire nation of Nigeria will be mobilized to back the team in Sunday's final and urged the team not to rest on its oars until the trophy is won.

"The win over Ivory Coast is history, same for the one over Mali, now the trophy is within reach and I must urge you to go ahead and do the nation proud and like President Goodluck Jonathan said , leave the rest to the government and people of Nigeria.

  • Comment

Copyright © 2013 Vanguard. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections — or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here.

AllAfrica aggregates and indexes content from over 130 African news organizations, plus more than 200 other sources, who are responsible for their own reporting and views. Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica.

Comments Post a comment