Supersand Eagles doing well in camp —‘Ejo’

THE head coach of Supersand Eagles, Audu Adamu ‘Ejo’, on Friday said that 16 players have started camping in preparation for the 2017 Beach Soccer World Cup in The Bahamas.

Audu told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the Badgry camp opened on April 12 with four players of the invited 22 not making the camp due to injuries.

NAN reports that the 2017 Beach Soccer World Cup which is the ninth edition, is scheduled to hold in Belarus, The Bahamas, from April 27 to May 7.

Nigeria, which made its last appearance at the 2015 edition in Portugal, and Senegal will represent Africa at the competition.

“We have 16 players in camp, as we speak, camping opened on Wednesday, and the players have shown so much skills and zeal.

“Four out of my boys could not make this trip as a result of injuries, sad as it is, we won’t allow that to disturb us; we are making the best of the situation,” he said.

The former BCC Lions goalkeeper also told NAN that as part of the team’s preparation, two players and some officials had yet to secure their American visas.

“Fourteen players were given their visas on Tuesday, remaining two, and some of our officials but I’m positive that they will be given by next week.

“We need to have that sorted so that we can focus on training, without that distraction,’’ the Kogi state-born coach said.

NAN reports that camping ought to have opened on March 30 but it was postponed due to logistics.

Asked if late camping will not affect their chances, he told NAN they would do the best they could considering the situation.

“Late camping has always been a recurring thing in the history of Supersand Eagles, but somehow, we have always managed it and rise above that.

“We know it’s always tough for us, but there is little or nothing we can do,” he said.

Nigeria are in group B alongside Italy, Mexico and Iran.