TheCable

The Super Eagles will open camp in Uyo, capital of Akwa Ibom State, on Monday for Saturday’s 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match against Tanzania.

Emmanuel Ikpeme, deputy secretary-general of NFF, arrived at the Akwa Ibom state capital on Friday as a one-man advance party ahead of the team’s assistant coaches and backroom staff, who are due in town on Monday morning.

The home-based Emmanuel Daniel, Ikechukwu Ezenwa and Jamiu Alimi are also expected in Uyo on Monday, alongside a number of foreign-based professionals, including William Troost-Ekong and forward Odion Ighalo.

Mikel John Obi, the team captain who is fresh from leading the Nigeria U23 to Olympic bronze in Brazil, is expected to arrive at the team’s Le Meridien Hotel on Tuesday.

Both the Super Eagles and Taifa Stars have little other than pride to battle for in Saturday’s game, as Egypt’s Pharaohs have already picked the lone ticket from the group to Gabon.

But the Eagles and their new technical adviser Gernot Rohr will use the match as rehearsal for the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying series Match Day 1 clash with Zambia in Ndola on October 8.

The result at the Akwa Ibom International Stadium on Saturday will not count, but the outcome of the encounter at the Levy Nwanawasa Stadium in Ndola five weeks later will set the tone for the Super Eagles’ World Cup qualifying campaign.

According to a statement released by the NFF on Sunday, Rohr is also expected in Uyo on Monday.