The Super Eagles of Nigeria yesterday had their first training session at the Arab Academy For Science, Technology and Maritime Transport, Alexandria, the city where they will play their games when the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations gets underway in Egypt on Friday.
In a session opened to spectators, the Nigerian team were led out for the warm up and subsequent drills by coach of the team Gernot Rohr and his assistants with captain John Obi Mikel leading the players out.
The spectators at the session kept on chanting the name of Mikel from the moment he walked out for the session and during the session his every touch was met with applause that no other player had for the close to two hours the team trained.
Arsenal forward Alex Iwobi also got his name chanted severally same as Wilfred Ndidi and Ahmed Musa but none came close to what captain of the team Mikel got during the session.
On the pitch it was a whole lot different with Samuel Chukwueze stealing the show with his skills, dribbling and pace. He finished off every move with style, a sign of how important he will be to Nigeria when the championship gets underway.
Although Odion Ighalo is favourite to lead the team as the main striker, Paul Onuachu is however making a strong case to challenge the decision of the coach with another superb showing during yesterday’s session.
Other who were impressive include Ahmed Musa, Ola Aina, Samuel Kalu and Oghenekaro Etebo who appears to be putting in extra shift to reclaim his spot in the middle of the pitch for the Super Eagles.
