Eagles get chartered flight to Tanzania

Amaju Pinnick

Amaju Pinnick, NFF chairman

Amaju Pinnick, NFF chairman
Amaju Pinnick, NFF chairman

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has tidied up all arrangements surrounding Nigeria’s 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match away to Tanzania in Dar es Salaam on Saturday, 5 September.

Already, the NFF has concluded agreement with a leading Nigeria airline to fly the team into Dar es Salaam and back to Nigeria, with departure to be from the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja and the return set for the Port Harcourt International Airport.

NFF officials confirmed on Wednesday that the chartered aircraft will convey the delegation into Dar es Salaam on the eve of the match, as Tanzania is a high altitude zone.

The delegation will depart Dar es Salaam immediately after the match, and fly into Port Harcourt, where the Super Eagles have an international friendly against the Mena of Niger on Tuesday, September 8.

Arrangements for the hotel where the Super Eagles will stay in Dar es Salaam have also been finalized, according to NFF General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi.

Nigeria and Egypt have three points each from Matchday 1 of the qualification series to be on top of Group G, though the

Pharaohs have scored one more goal and are slightly ahead following their 3-0 defeat of Tanzania in Cairo.

On the same weekend, the Pharaohs will travel to Ndjamena to confront the Les Sao of Chad.

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Meanwhile, Coach Sunday Oliseh has excused Heartland FC duo David Obiazor and Nelson Ogbonnaya from the Super Eagles’ camp as both succumbed to injuries. They are therefore out of the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Tanzania.

Goalkeeper Obiazor and centre –back Ogbonnaya were in the list of 23 home –based professionals invited by Oliseh, but the coach will now call up two other players from the much –improved League to replace the injured duo.

“The players are nursing injuries and after thorough examination by the Super Eagles’ medics, it was agreed that it is best to allow them some time to rest and return to their clubs.

“Coach Oliseh will call up replacements for the duo very soon,” said a team official.

Oliseh has also called up 18 overseas –based professionals for the game against Tanzania.

Eagles’ goalkeeper and skipper Vincent Enyeama is top on the list, which also has a number of new faces as well as usual players Kenneth Omeruo, Godfrey Oboabona, Leon Balogun and Ahmed Musa. 2013 Africa Cup of Nations top scorer Emmanuel Emenike and Joel Obi return, as well as former junior internationals Obiora Nwankwo, Rabiu Ibrahim and Lukman Haruna.

As at Wednesday morning, Ikechukwu Ezenwa, Solomon Kwambe, Chima Akas, Jamiu Alimi, Stephen Eze, Gbolahan Salami, Tunde Adeniji, Bright Ejike, Oghenekaro Etebo, Ifeanyi Matthew, Usman Mohammed, Lordson Ichull, Prince Aggrey and Bright Onyedikachi were in the Eagles’ camp.

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