The Super Eagles of Nigeria will not begin their final preparations for the Brazil 2014 FIFA World Cup until 26th May 2014, as most of the team’s players would still be involved with their clubs until then.
According to Ademola Olajire, the assistant director of communications of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), the players will be busy with their clubs until the middle of May, after which the team can then begin serious preparation for the tournament.
“The players are expected to arrive at the team’s camp in the U.S. on 26th May 2014, two days to the international friendly with Scotland”, he revealed.
“Right now, the players are still committed to club activities until the second week of May when most the leagues in Europe will end. The players will have about two weeks’ rest period before the deadline for arrival in camp”.
He also spoke on the intensity of competition for places in the team, saying the players understand that they have to do their all to impress Coach Stephen Keshi or miss out on the plane to Brazil.
Still on the World Cup, club managers in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) have urged Keshi to spend time watching matches in the domestic league in order to discover more players.
“Talented players abound in the league and can still be identified if Keshi adequately monitors the competition”, Chairman of Enyimba International FC of Aba, Mr. Felix Anyansi-Agwu said.
“We have good players in the league with what Nigeria did at the African Nations Championship (CHAN) in South Africa last January”.
Similarly, General Manager of Rangers International FC of Enugu, Mr Paul Ozor urged Keshi to scout for more home-based players, who could be placed on standby ahead of preparations for the World Cup.
“The players that were taken to the 2014 CHAN were not the best the country could produce”, Ozor said. “The World Cup is a different ball game. It is where the country’s best players will be needed”.
