POLAND VS NIGERIA: Work permit may stop Mikel

Super Eagles camp in Wroclaw came alive on Tuesday with the arrival of 16 more players ahead Nigeria’s pre-World Cup friendly with Poland on Friday.

Six players had reported in camp Monday in the Polish city. These are William Troost-Ekong, Alex Iwobi, Ola Aina, Tyronne Ebuehi, Brian Idowu and Leon Balogun.

They were joined yesterday by Francis Uzoho, Elderson Echiejile, Stephen Eze, Joel Obi, Shehu Abdullahi, John Ogu, Moses Simon and Kenneth Omeruo. Others are Odion Ighalo, Ogenyi Onazi, Uche Agbo, Ahmed Musa, Victor Moses, Chidozie Awaziem, Wilfred Ndidi and Kelechi Iheanacho.

While goalkeepers Ikechukwu Ezenwa Daniel Akpeyi are expected in camp tomorrow, captain of the team, John Mikel Obi, according to the team’s administrator, may miss Friday’s match as he is said to be renewing his work permit in China, where he plays for Tianjin Teda.

He is however, expected to be part of the Nigeria team that will face Serbia in the second pre-friendly match in London next Tuesday. Already, Oghenekaro Etebo and Junior Ajayi are out of Friday’s match. While Etebo is out because of injury, Egypt-based Ajayi is stopped by his inability to secure a visa to Poland.

The Super Eagles players trained twice on Tuesday with fitness coach Jean Luc-Royer doing extra work on defender Stephen Eze. Goalkeeper trainer Aloy Agu also worked on Uzoho.

The Poland-Nigeria friendly match will come up on Friday at the Municipal Stadium, Wroclaw, starting at 8.45pm (Nigerian time). Four days later, they will face Serbia in London.

Players in camp:

William Troost-Ekong, Alex Iwobi, Ola Aina, Tyronne Ebuehi, Brian Idowu, Leon Balogun, Francis Uzoho, Elderson Echiejile, Stephen Eze, Joel Obi, Shehu Abdullahi, John Ogu, Moses Simon, Kenneth Omeruo, Odion Ighalo, Ogenyi Onazi, Uche Agbo, Ahmed Musa, Victor Moses, Chidozie Awaziem, Wilfred Ndidi, Kelechi Iheanacho.