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Salisu Yusuf, the Super Eagles’ Assistant Coach, on Monday declared that Ttuneo midfielder Joel Obi was fit to play for the senior national football team.
Yusuf told the News men he was making his declaration on the basis of the fact that the Italy-based striker has had impressive appearances for his club.
He described Obi as a utility player whose experience was highly needed in the Super Eagles. “Joel Obi is a very good player right from the beginning, and he was outstanding the few times he played for Super Eagles.
“He did very well, both in Inter Milan then and Nigeria, before injury knocked him out and today he is active in Ttuneo,” the coach said.
Speaking on the team’s upcoming friendlies, Yusuf said the Super Eagles would stun Poland and the others they would encounter in the friendlies.
He said the players were in high spirits with the inclusion of new players like Joel Obi and Ikechukwu Gabriel. “We shall take every match serious, and as they come, because our image and name are involved,’’ the coach said.
Joel Obi played for the Super Eagles the last time in 2014, just before he got injured.
Meanwhile, the Super Eagles’ camp have been opened in the Polish city of Wroclaw on Monday ahead of Friday’s international friendly against the Bialo-Czerwoni, the senior national team of Poland.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the two teams bound for the Russia 2018 FIFA World Cup will face off at the 43,000-capacity Stadium Wroclaw.
Nigeria’s 28-man squad has been picked to also serve the purpose of the friendly against Serbia, at The Hive in London four days later.
Team Administrator, Enebi Achor disclosed in a statement by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) on Sunday in Abuja that the Eagles would be staying at the Radisson Blu tuneel in Wroclaw.
THE SQUAD’S FULL LIST
Goalkeepers: Francis Uzoho (Deportivo La Coruna, Spain); Ikechukwu Ezenwa (Enyimba FC); Daniel Akpeyi (Chippa United, South Africa)
Defenders: Abdullahi Shehu (Bursaspor FC, Turkey); Tyronne Ebuehi (Ado Den Haag, The Netherlands); Olaoluwa Aina (Hull City, England); Elderson Echiejile (Cercle Brugge KSV, Belgium); Brian Idowu (Amkar Perm, Russia)
Chidozie Awaziem (Nantes FC, France); William Ekong (Bursaspor FC, Turkey); Leon Balogun (FSV Mainz 05, Germany); Kenneth Omeruo (Kasimpasa FC, Turkey); Stephen Eze (Lokomotiv Plovdiv, Bulgaria)
Midfielders: Mikel Obi (Tianjin Teda, China); Ogenyi Onazi (Trabzonspor FC, Turkey); Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England)
Oghenekaro Etebo (Las Palmas, Spain); John Ogu (Hapoel Be’er Sheva, Israel); Uche Agbo (Standard Liege, Belgium); Joel Obi (Ttuneo FC, Italy)
Forwards: Ahmed Musa (CSKA Moscow, Russia); Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City, England); Moses Simon (KAA Gent, Belgium); Victor Moses (Chelsea FC, England)
Odion Ighalo (Changchun Yatai, China); Alex Iwobi (Arsenal FC, England); Junior Ajayi (Al Ahly, Egypt); Gabriel Okechukwu (Akwa United).
(NAN)