All players invited by Head Coach Stephen Keshi for Wednesday’s international friendly against Venezuela in Miami, State of Florida, United States of America, have arrived the Super Eagles’ camp and battling for shirts.
The team trained twice on Tuesday and looked very sharp for the assignment at hand, as the Nigeria senior team rolls on ground its preparations for next year’s Africa Cup of Nations finals in South Africa.
Goalkeeper Austin Ejide, from Israel’s top division, joined the contingent that left Nigeria on Sunday night in Atlanta, and together flew with the group to Miami. Also in camp are defender Elderson Echiejile, midfielders Raheem Lawal, Ogenyi Onazi, Nosa Igiebor and US-based Bright Ejike, as well as strikers Brown Ideye, Foluwashola Ameobi and Obafemi Martins.
From the original list, Chelsea duo of John Mikel Obi and Victor Moses opted out while France-based defender, Apam Onyekachi, silver medallist at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, is injured.
Home boys are goalkeeper Chigozie Agbim, defenders Godfrey Oboabona, Solomon Kwambe, Azubuike Egwueke, Benjamin Francis and Umar Zango, midfielder Henry Uche and forwards Sunday Mba, Ejike Uzoenyi and Gomo Onduku.
Wednesday’s clash is only the second meeting between Nigeria and Venezuela at senior international level, with the only previous encounter being another friendly in London’s Watford FC arena on July 26, 2003.
Skipper Austin Okocha’s goal separated the two teams that day.
The match will kick off at 8pm Florida time (2am Thursday in Nigeria).
International football matches – Friendly
November 14
11:00 Korea Republic v Australia
12:00 DR Congo v Burkina Faso
12:00 Lesotho v Mozambique
12:00 Niger v Senegal
12:00 Rwanda v Namibia
12:35 China v New Zealand
13:30 Thailand v Bhutan
13:45 Malaysia v Hong Kong
14:00 Tanzania v Kenya
15:00 Georgia v Egypt
15:30 Kuwait v Bahrain
16:00 Armenia v Lithuania
16:00 Russia v United States
16:30 U.A.E. v Estonia
17:00 Angola v Congo
17:00 Bulgaria v Ukraine
17:30 Czech Republic v Slovakia
18:00 Algeria v Bosnia-Herzegovina
18:00 Cyprus v Finland
18:00 Rep. of Macedonia v Slovenia
18:00 Saudi Arabia v Argentina
18:15 Tunisia v Switzerland
19:00 Andorra v Iceland
19:00 Liechtenstein v Malta
19:00 South Africa v Zambia
19:35 Israel v Belarus
20:00 Chile v Serbia
20:00 Morocco v Togo
20:00 Romania v Belgium
20:00 Turkey v Denmark
20:15 Luxembourg v Scotland
20:30 Austria v Ivory Coast
20:30 Gabon v Portugal
20:30 Holland v Germany
20:30 Hungary v Norway
20:30 Sweden v England
20:45 Albania v Cameroon
20:45 Poland v Uruguay
20:45 Rep. of Ireland v Greece
20:50 Italy v France
22:30 Panama v Spain
November 15
00:30 Puerto Rico v Paraguay
01:30 Bolivia v Costa Rica
01:30 Brazil v Colombia
02:05 Venezuela v Nigeria
02:30 Honduras v Peru
12:00 Philippines v Singapore