Eagles’ Camp in Austria Bubbles with 17 Players for Cameroon Friendly

By Femi Solaja

With barely two days to the first of two friendlies arranged for Super Eagles, no fewer than 17 players are in camp for the match against the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon on Friday.

The three-time African champions have already settled down for business in Austria despite initial fears that withdrawal of seven key Eagles may scuttle the tune-up matches ahead of the World Cup 2022 qualifiers in September.

Super Eagles’ Media Officer, Babafemi Raji, confirmed to THISDAY that majority of the players came into the camp last night.

The team had light work out session late in the evening while the main training will hold this morning (Wednesday) before the match on Friday.

According to Raji, all the three invited goalkeepers namely; Maduka Okoye, Francis Uzoho and John Noble were amongst the early arrivals with the Vice-captain, William Troost-Ekong, Alex Iwobi, Shehu Abdullahi, Wilfred Ndidi, Kelechi Iheanacho and Chidozie Awaziem joining the train to the Austria camp later in the evening.

Other Eagles in camp as at last night include; Jamilu Collins, Etebo Oghenekaro, Valentine Ozonwafor, Anayo Iwuala, Abraham Marcus, Terem Moffi, Peter Olayinka with Samson Tijani completing the list of 17 players.

Super Eagles Head Coach, Gernot Rohr, had on Monday expressed his worries in an interview with ESPN that the absence of players with injuries like Napoli’s Victor Osimhen, Crotone’s Simy Nwankwo, Porto’s Zaidu Sanusi, West Brom’s Semi Ajayi, Fulham’s Ola Aina, Benfica’s Tyronne Ebuehi and Hoffenheim’s Kevin Akpoguma pose great danger for the game.

Speaking at the end of the first day in the Austrian camp, Rohr admitted that the friendly was an essential on to help the team try out fresh legs ahead of the qualifiers for the World Cup

“It is essential for us to try out new players, most especially as most top players are not here.

“For me, it is also an opportunity for any one who thinks he’s good to be at the World Cup to come show the stuff that should guarantee him a place in the team,” observed the Franco-German gaffer.

The Super Eagles will take on the Indomitable Lions in a double-header at Stadion Weiner Neustadt on Friday with the second game coming up four days later on June 8.

The friendlies were arranged as part of Nigeria’s preparation for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Liberia and Cape Verde Islands in August and September.

The Super Eagles recently qualified for the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations after finishing top of the Group L.