Ideye, Ayila Miss Deadline

The trio of Brown Ideye, Atanda Ayila Yusuf and Efe Ambrose, wonâ€t make it to the Super Eagles†camp in Abuja today because of club engagements.

Coach Samson Siasia had set today as the deadline for the Eagles to report to camp to prepare for this weekendâ€s Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Madagascar.

The coach had vowed to wield his big stick on erring players that flout the order.

Striker Ideye and midfielder, Ayila, who ply their trade for FC Dynamo Kyiv in the Ukrainian League, cited their involvement in last nightâ€s outing in the Ukrainian league, as the reason for their late arrival to the Eagles†camp.

Efe, who plays for Israeli club, Ashdod FC, said the earliest time he could get a connecting flight from Israel to Nigeria is today evening. With this, he will get to Abuja camp by tomorrow.

“As much as I want to beat the deadline set by the coach, there is no way I could fly from Tel Aviv today (yesterday) and make it to the country tomorrow (today). I will be joining the rest of my colleagues in camp on Tuesday by Godâ€s grace,” Efe, a silver medal winner at the Beijing 2008 Olympics said.

Also expected to join the teamâ€s camp tomorrow is goalkeeper Dele Aiyenugba, whose club Bnei Yehuda of Israel played against Nosa Igieborâ€s club, Hapoel Tel Aviv last night.

“My team will be playing against Bnei Yehuda. I am supposed to be in camp on Tuesday,” Aiyenugba said.

Meanwhile, Eagles boss has warned that only players that are in top form would be fielded in the match against Madagascar on 4 September. The warning is coming on the heels of goalkeeper Vincent Enyeamaâ€s bench role in French Ligue 1 club, Lille.

Siasia said that goalkeeper trainer of the Eagles, Ike Shorunmu, has been instructed to ensure that form and regular playing time in clubs are used to determine the goalie that will man the goal post for the team in Antananarivo.

—Francis Achi/Abuja & Bamidele Olowosagba