Eagles’ players get Xmas break

Nigeria’s Super Eagles who are in camp preparing for the 2016 Africa Nations Championship (CHAN) which starts next month will be given two days off to go and celebrate the Christmas festivities.
This is to enable the players join their families for the break which is expected to take effect from December 23 and last until December 26th.
Bature Yaro and Usman Mohammed, who were part of the title winning U23 side at the CAF/Africa U23 Nations Cup will join up with squad after the break having served up the one week break granted them.
Lobi Stars centre back, Samson Gbadebo, is also expected to join up with the team as a possible replacement for Christian Madu who was injured as training and might not be fit before the tournament starts
The Super Eagles have been in Abuja for about a week preparing for the tournament which has them in Group C alongside Tunisia, Niger and Guinea.
Without Chief Coach Sunday Oliseh in camp, the team has been tutored by Salisu Yusuf, Jean Francois Losciuto and Tijani Babangida as they get set to hit South Africa where they are to camp before heading to Rwanda for the tournament.
Oliseh has been ill for sometime now and has been under close observation since after Nigeria’s World Cup elimination against Swaziland in October but he is expected to join the squad as soon as he is certified fit.
General Secretary of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Dr Mohammed Sanusi, revealed that the team will play some friendly matches in South Africa before the championship begins in Rwanda.
The team is expected to depart Nigeria for South Africa on January 3 for the last leg of preparations and will take on the Elephants of Ivory Coast on 9th or 10th January in Pretoria if plans by the NFF pan out.
A friendly against Angola in South Africa is also on the cards as the football body looks to give the team some stern tests, ahead of the 4th edition of the Africa Nations Championship.
The Championship starts on January 16 and runs through until February7, 2016 with Nigeria playing her first game on January 18 against the Mena of Niger at the Stade Regional Nyamirambo.