Eagles train under hot sun

Conscious of the harsh weather awaiting the
Super Eagles in Ndola, the team yesterday opted
to train under the sun in Abuja ahead of Sunday’s
Russia 2018 World Cup qualifier against
Chipolopolo of Zambia.
The training, which started at about 2pm at the
Practice pitch of the Abuja Stadium, lasted for
two hours, while they received cheers from a
pocket of fans at the venue.
A mild drama, however, ensued as some of the
players hurriedly raced into the waiting bus to
avoid a repeat of Wednesday’s incidence when
they were mobbed.
Team skipper, John Obi Mikel, Ogenyi Onazi, Carl
Ikeme got into the team’s bus after the section
ended, but Premier League duo of Kelechi
Iheanacho and Alex Iwobi were ambushed by
fans, who wanted some snap shots with the
stars.
Meanwhile, Nigeria Police Force revealed that it
took the intervention of five armed policemen to
rescue Mikel from the mob that invaded the pitch
after the Eagles friendly with Plateau United FC on
Wednesday.
Super Eagles’ Chief Security Officer, ACP Baba
Abubakar, who made the disclosure, attributed
the situation to security lapses.
“What happened on Wednesday was unfortunate.
But we will take correction from it. I had ordered
our men to locked the gate before the end of the
match, but somebody had given a counter order
to allow the journalists entry into the pitch.
“When we noticed the security implications of the
fans, we know that their target would be the big
players like Mikel. We have to direct our men
about five of them to shield Mikel and build
strong wall to guide him to the dressing room,”
he explained.
In a related development, the Team Coordinator,
Patrick Pascal dismissed the impression that the
harsh weather in Ndola will affect the players,
arguing that with the training under the hot Abuja
weather will provide enough antidote.
“Yes, whether will always be a problem, but that
was why we started this training under hot
weather to ensure that the players acclimatize
very well for the game. From what I have seen
here, there is no reason to entertain any fear for
that game in Zambia. I have the feeling that
Eagles will live up to the expectations of the
soccer-loving Nigerians,” he noted.