The Super Eagles have arrived in Luxembourg City ahead of
Tuesday’s international friendly against that country’s senior national team.
The delegation left Rouen, where they played Mali on Friday, at
noon on Sunday and are now at the Alvisse Parc Hotel, an impressive facility
located on Route d’Echternach in Luxembourg City.
There is a great spirit in camp as players and officials look
forward to a win against Luxembourg, on the back of the 1-0 defeat of one of
Africa’s strongest teams, Mali at the Stade Robert Diochon on Friday.
The team later trained at the Stade Josy Barthel, venue of
Tuesday’s clash with the Red Lions.
However, there is quiet indignation about a report in an African
football website, which claimed on Saturday that the Super Eagles could not
exchange jerseys after Friday’s international friendly with Mali because the
players do not have enough and only do ‘wash-and-wear’ of jerseys.
Team administrator Dayo Enebi Achor wondered where such a story
emanated from when the Malian players never offered to exchange jerseys with
the Super Eagles at the Stade Robert Diochon.
“We have received calls from Nigeria that people are happy about
the performance of this young team against Mali. Most people believe that we
are on to a good thing with this crop of players but someone is only interested
in spewing falsehood to try and embarrass the nation.
“We use new jerseys for every match, and we exchange jerseys when
it is necessary. The jerseys belong to the players and they are free to do
whatever they want with them after these two matches.”
Chairman of the NFF Media and Publicity Committee, Hon. Suleiman
Yahaya-Kwande confirmed to thenff.com that the new jerseys designed for Nigeria
will be unveiled at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in August,
where 1996 champions Nigeria is one of only 16 countries taking part in the
men’s football tournament.
Friday’s defeat by Nigeria was only the third loss in 11 matches
for Mali in the past 14 months, and the Malians have already qualified for the
2017 Africa Cup of Nations with two matches to spare.
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