Mikel, 17 others train for Ethiopia

Mikel Obi

The Super Eagles began  their  training  ahead of Sunday’s  World Cup qualifying playoff  against Ethiopia on Tuesday with  Stephen Keshi putting Chelsea midfielder star Mikel Obi and 17 other invited  players through their paces at  Abuja National Stadium.

Five players: Liverpool’s Victor Moses, Dynomo Kiev’s Brown Ideye, Fenerbhce’s Emmanuel Emenike, Real Betis’ Nosa Igiebor and Newcastle’s Shola Ameobi were absent from training.

But  spokesman  for the Eagles Ben Alaiya told our correspondent on the telephone that Moses, Ideye, Igiebor and Emenike were expected to arrive at the camp late in the evening.

“Only  Ameobi got permission to report to camp on Wednesday,” Alaiya said.

“The Secretary of the team, Dayo Enebi,  said  Ameobi had a flight hitch and he is expected to arrive in the country on  Wednesday morning.”

The players who trained on Tuesday are   Vincent Enyeama, Austin Ejide,  Chigozie Agbim,  Efe Ambrose, Elderson Echejile and Godfrey Oboabona.

Others  are  Azubuike Egwuekwe, Solomon Kwambe, Benjamin Francis,  James Okwuosa,  Mikel, Ogenyi Onazi, John Ogu, Sunday Mba, Nnamdi Oduamadi,Uche Nwofor, Obinna Nsofor and Ahmed Musa.

The  Eagles,  who are scheduled to travel to Addis Ababa on Saturday,  will train again at the same venue on Wednesday afternoon.