Onazi Leads Eagles to France
The Nigeria Football Federation has announced that Onazi would be leading the Super Eagles to France.
According to the announcement, West Ham star Victor Moses and Aaron Samuel have been left out of the Nigeria squad to face Mali and Luxembourg in friendlies on 27 May and 31 May.
The NFF also applauded the French Embassy in Nigeria after Super Eagles’ assistant coaches and backroom staff were issued with entry visas into Europe on Tuesday.
Assistant coaches Imama Amapakabo and Kennedy Boboye, and physiotherapist Chris Anozie were among those issued visas, and they departed the country through the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja on Tuesday night. Team administrator Dayo Enebi Achor, doctor Ibrahim Gyaran and equipment officer Chidi Ngoka left Nigeria on Monday night.
Achor told thenff.com from the team’s camp in France on Tuesday evening that all players, coaches and backroom staff were being expected at the team camp on Wednesday, ahead of Friday’s clash with Mali in Rouen.
Midfielder Ogenyi Onazi and eight other players travelled out with the assistant coaches and other backroom staff from Abuja on Tuesday. Others are goalkeeper Ikechukwu Ezenwa, defenders Elderson Echiejile, Musa Muhammed, Abdullahi Shehu and Kingsley Madu, midfielder Etebo Oghenekaro and forwards Aminu Umar and Brown Ideye.
Of the original 26 players that were listed by interim head coach Salisu Yusuf for the games against Mali and Luxembourg, the NFF has released captain Mikel Obi and his assistant Ahmed Musa for former captain Joseph Yobo’s testimonial game in Port Harcourt on Friday, while defender Chidozie Awaziem is a big doubt.
Samuel and Moses are out, the former as a result of injury, while there has been no explanation for Moses’ absence.
Defender William Troost Ekong will be on duty for his Norwegian club on Thursday and is only in consideration for the match against Luxembourg in Luxembourg City on Tuesday next week.
