The Super Eagles are fast settling down in Lima, Peru, despite the stress the team went through in reaching the South American country for an international friendly that comes up 8pm local time and 2am Nigerian time on Wednesday, the team’s Media Officer, Ban Alaiya, has said.
As at the time of sending the message, alaiya said all the 22 players invited for the game, including the five foreign based stars, have settled at the Sheraton Hotel abode of the national team and were preparing for the one and only training session the team will have before the game against Peru.
Alaiya, who is with the team in Peru, said in the email message: “Head Coach, Stephen Keshi, and his captain, Chigozie Agbim, said the weather here in Peru is good for football but will have to contend with the altitude. Weather on Tuesday was hovering between 18 degrees celcius to 22 degrees celcius, which was quite good, but for the fear of the altitude. Expectations are that the weather may go further down to 16 degrees during match time, but the national team technical crew
seems ready for all that the weather here may throw at the team.
“So far Peruvians have been quite receptive to the Nigerian side, as they still have fond memories of Nigerian stars like late Rashidi Yekini, Jay Jay Okocha, Keshi himself and Dan Amokachi, who remained household names here in Lima.
“There were however boasting that their team can take the Nigerian stars to the cleaners as they threw posers like whether we came with Nwankwo Kanu or Obafemi Martins. Vincent Enyeama, they also seem to know very well. Security around the Nigerian side is very tight and players have been quite obedient to camp rules as dished out by Big Boss Stephen Keshi.
“Peru big star here is Chinedu Ogbuke Obasi’s Schalke FC team mate in Germany, Farfan. Many of the fans here say he would wreck Nigeria if he plays but information obtained from the camp of the home side here does not suggest that Farfan will be in action on Wednesday, except if hei s their joker.
“Emerging Nigerian midfielder, Raheem Lawal, who is based in Spain was the last player to breeze into camp and was well received. Flight hitches caused his late arrival and he’s expected to make up for that with a splendid display against Peru, Wednesday night.”