Mikel, Moses land in Eagles camp

Victor Moses and Mikel Obi

The preparation for the Nigeria game against Malawi on Saturday is taking a full swing with the arrival of some key players of the Super Eagles in Calabar. Some of those who trained in Calabar on Tuesday were Chelsea midfielder, Mikel Obi; new Liverpool player Victor Moses, Efe Ambrose, Sunday Mba, Ahmed Musa and Obinna Nsofor and goalkeepers Vincent Enyeama, Austin Ejide and Chigozie Agbim.

In camp also are Lazio midfielder, Ogenyi Onazi, Uche Nwofor, Godfrey Oboabona, James Okwuosa, who came in on Monday, Brown Ideye, Solomon Kwambe, Benjamin Francis and Azubuike Egwuekwue. In all, 12 of the players trained on Tuesday evening at the UJ Esuene Stadium in Calabar.

Coach Stephen Keshi said he was happy with the response of the players and expects a good game against Malawi on Saturday.

Just as Eagles troop in, Osaze Odemwingie has confessed that he missed football following a long layoff. The estranged Eagles attacker said he was eager to prove his worth to Cardiff after signing from West Bromwich Albion for £2.5m.

The 32-year-old Nigeria international became surplus to requirements at the Hawthorns after the striker’s infamous drive to London in a bid to engineer a move to Queens Park Rangers at the end of the January transfer window.

“I missed football and I am delighted to come to a fast-progressing team,” he told Cardiff City Player.

“They have a young manager with a lot of ambition. He has done really well in a short period and I hope to help the team become better and I am grateful for the confidence they have shown in me.

“I am very motivated and ready for action. The last six months, coming on as a substitute for 10-15 minutes, was not what made me happy and I am a better player when I am happy. I am very hungry and I will show the same attitude I had when I was scoring a lot of goals in games in the Premier League.”

Odemwingie will use the international break to get acquainted with his team-mates before their Premier League trip to face Hull City on Saturday week.

Odemwingie’s Eagles teammates will play Malawi as he continues his absence from the team. The attacker has not featured for Nigeria since last year. His layoff from the game was all round as he neither played for country nor club for the period. His statements from his Twitter handle separated him and the Nigeria coach Keshi just as uncomplimentary tweets knocked him off finally from his Hawthorns base.