Ejide leads Nigeria's Eagles against Venezuela

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Tunde Oyedele

Nigeria’s Israeli-based goalkeeper, Austin Ejide will captain the Super Eagles when they square up with the national team of Venezuela in an international friendly match in Miami, Florida, United States of America on Wednesday.

Eagles Chief Coach, Stephen Keshi said he handed Ejide the team’s armband for the match after a critical assessment of the current situation in camp.

Ejide first joined the national team from Nigeria Premier League NPL club, Gabros of Nnewi in the run-up to the Korea-Japan 2002 World Cup alongside Enyeama and Justice Christopher.

Since then, the Eagles number one jersey has since been exchanged between the two keepers, with Enyeama having more playing time.

But, Wednesday’s game will be another opportunity for Ejide to lay claim to the Eagles number one shirt.

“I’m ready to lead Nigeria against Venezuela, and hope that we play a good match on Wednesday,” Ejide said on Tuesday.

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Meanwhile, Newcastle United of England’s longest serving player, Shola Ameobi, is delighted to be part of the Nigerian set up for the first time, and hopes it turns out well on Wednesday (Thursday morning in Nigeria).

Ameobi said: “It’s good to be here and I will learn to speak Pidgin English as the players have directed”, he joked after his former teammate at the Toons, Obafemi Martins,challenged him to start speaking in Pidgin English, which Coach Keshi has adopted as the official language each time the team are in camp.

Martins, has however vowed to get a shirt with his performance on the pitch on Wednesday and in subsequent camping of the team.

“My return is for real and Nigerians will see”, he said. Martins, who looks the sharpest among the attackers in camp, banged in some goals during the team’s training in Miami on Monday and Tuesday.

Also, Bright Dike of MLS club, Portland Timbers of the United States, who was the last to join the Eagles camp, said it was dream come true for him to be part of the Nigerian team.

The game will be played at the Marlins Stadium in Miami at 8pm Miami time on Wednesday, which is 2am Nigerian time early Thursday.

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