Faro Deadline: Okocha, Kanu others get waiver on resumption
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Faro Deadline: Okocha, Kanu others get waiver on resumption
Ahead 2004 Nations Cup
Okocha, Kanu, others get waiver on camp resumption deadline
By Dipo Okubanjo
THE January 11 deadline set by the Nigeria Football Association (NFA) for invited Super Eagles players yet to report to the Nations Cup camp in Faro, Portugal, may have been waived for some prominent players, including Captain Austin Okocha.
The elite list of absentees, dominated by those who ply their trade in the English Premiership also includes, Nwankwo Kanu, Celestine Babayaro and Yakubu Ayegbeni.
Indeed the NFA is waiving camp resumption date for the affected players for the second time, having exempted them from the initial December 21 date.
Speaking in an interview with The Guardian on the new development, spokesman to the football body, Samuel Kaalu said the concerned players had negotiated with the football authorities to relax the deadline to enable them honour some crucial engagements with their respective clubs in the New Year.
He added that the request has been communicated to the Eagles Chief Coach Christian Chukwu who had looked forward to having a full camp by January 11, just three days to January 14 when he is expected to name his final squad for the championship which gets underway on January 24, in Tunis.
The implication of this waiver is that certain players are sure to make Chukwu's final list without undergoing screening.
Twenty-two players were said to have resumed in camp as at yesterday, the latest arrivals being Seyi Olofinjana and Muyiwa Lawal.
The team had on Sunday beat Portuguese clubside Algarve 2-0 in its first build-up game, with goals coming from defender Romanus Orjinta and forward Oge Ileagu.
Chukwu was expected to lead out the team once again, yesterday, for a build-up game against another local side Luton F.C.
Okocha, Kanu, others get waiver on camp resumption deadline
By Dipo Okubanjo
THE January 11 deadline set by the Nigeria Football Association (NFA) for invited Super Eagles players yet to report to the Nations Cup camp in Faro, Portugal, may have been waived for some prominent players, including Captain Austin Okocha.
The elite list of absentees, dominated by those who ply their trade in the English Premiership also includes, Nwankwo Kanu, Celestine Babayaro and Yakubu Ayegbeni.
Indeed the NFA is waiving camp resumption date for the affected players for the second time, having exempted them from the initial December 21 date.
Speaking in an interview with The Guardian on the new development, spokesman to the football body, Samuel Kaalu said the concerned players had negotiated with the football authorities to relax the deadline to enable them honour some crucial engagements with their respective clubs in the New Year.
He added that the request has been communicated to the Eagles Chief Coach Christian Chukwu who had looked forward to having a full camp by January 11, just three days to January 14 when he is expected to name his final squad for the championship which gets underway on January 24, in Tunis.
The implication of this waiver is that certain players are sure to make Chukwu's final list without undergoing screening.
Twenty-two players were said to have resumed in camp as at yesterday, the latest arrivals being Seyi Olofinjana and Muyiwa Lawal.
The team had on Sunday beat Portuguese clubside Algarve 2-0 in its first build-up game, with goals coming from defender Romanus Orjinta and forward Oge Ileagu.
Chukwu was expected to lead out the team once again, yesterday, for a build-up game against another local side Luton F.C.