The Super Eagles of Nigeria held their first tactical session at the Nest of Champions ahead of their World Cup 2018 qualifiers against Algeria.

Coach Gernot Rohr held the session behind close doors but Owngoalnigeria.com eagle eyed correspondent watched the training from a section of the stadium unnoticed.

Rohr tried the players in two different formations during the session, starting with a 3-4-3 formation before switching formations again during the session.

Here is how the probables were lined up against the possibles in a 3-4-3 formation as witnessed by our correspondent.

Daniel Akpeyi (GK)

William Troost Ekong ( DF)

Leon Balogun (DF)

Kenneth Omeruo (DF)

Victor Moses (RWB)

Ahmed Musa ( LWB)

Mikel Obi ( MF)

Eddy Onazi (MF)

Oghenekaro Etebo (MF)

Alex Iwobi (FW)

Kelechi Iheanacho (FW)

Keys:

GK: Goalkepper
DF: Defender
RWB: Right Wing Back
LWB: Left Wing Back
MF: Midfielder
FW: Forward

The Desert Foxes of Algeria are leaving nothing to chance in their bid to get a positive result that will improve their chances of qualifying for the World Cup 2018 in Russia.

Algeria will take on Nigeria tomorrow and upon arrival in Uyo, venue of the game against the group leaders, the players and officials of the team travelled with almost everything they will be needing while in Nigeria.

Owngoalnigeria.com correspondent who witnessed their arrival report that the team came with consumables like packed foods, bottled water and a chef,who will handle their kitchen.

It appears they have resolve not to use anything bar the accommodation provided by their host, as they were also seen with sleeping pillows and even bed sheet.

Owngoalnigeria.com was able to get pictures of some players with the pillow and bed spread, no thanks to the immigration officials who refused our cameraman access to take pictures of their packed food and drinks.

Players of the Super Eagles of Nigeria had their first training session at the Nest of Champions stadium in Uyo yesterday evening ahead of their World Cup 2018 qualifiers against Algeria.

The training which was conducted by the coach of the team Gernot Rohr was done behind the close doors, as the team perfect their strategy for Saturday’s game away from spying eyes.

Rohr who was critical of the playing surface of the Uyo pitch the last time, the Super Eagles played at the stadium, the AFCON 2017 qualifiers dead rubber game against Tanzania, which they won 1-0.

The coach called for an upgrade of the playing surface after the game, as it will form part of the reasons why his team will continue to play at the stadium as their home ground.

However, the manager appears to be satisfied with the amount of work done by the management of the stadium, and he appreciated the hard work after his team first training session.

” We have a good pitch, they have worked well on the pitch. This is more like it. We had a very good workout on the pitch. The fine playing surface helped us practice on how we intend to play against Algeria” He told Owngoalnigeria.com

The Super Eagles of Nigeria close door training session at the Nest of Champions stadium in Uyo ahead of their clash against Algeria, had in attendance former captain of the Super Eagles Austin Okocha.

Dressed in a black top and brown coloured pants, the former Bolton Wanderers captain was the only unofficial member of the team granted access to the training by the security operatives at the stadium.

Okocha who is the uncle of Arsenal 20 year old forward Alex Iwobi arrived at the pitch shortly before the start of training, and was given a rousing reception by coach of the team Gernot Rohr.

Rohr addressed the players on how Okocha helped boost the image of Nigerian players in Europe, which according to him has impacted in the career of most of the players in his team and Nigeria at large.

“He did so much for the reputation of Nigerian football players and some of you are profiting from that. And we must thank him for bringing us to here.” He told the players before the start of training.

Bologna Nigerian forward Sadiq Umar is set to spend some few weeks on the sidelines after successfully undergoing surgery on his knee.

Sadiq hurt his knee in a collision with Roma goalkepper during last weekend Serie A game, and yesterday went under the surgeon’s knife to fix up his knee.

The length of time, the Nigerian Rio 2016 Olympics ace will spend on the sideline will depend on his recovery rate, although Owngoalnigeria.com gathered that he will be back for on-field rehabilitation in 10 days time.

He joined Bologna on a co-ownership deal from Roma to help spice up the attack of the Serie A side, but injuries has so far disrupted his progress at the club, as he picked up an injury which delayed his debut upon joining the team.

His injury enforced absence will no doubt hurt the plans of coach Roberto Donadoni who has high hopes for the lanky forward, and even handed him his first start last weekend against his former side.

Following allegations that he skipped Nigeria’s last World Cup 2018 qualifiers against Zambia, Chelsea Victor Moses has reaffirmed his desire to play for Nigeria any time he is called up.

The former England youth international also revealed that he spoke with coach Gernot Rohr about the injury he picked up against Leicester City that made him miss the tie against Zambia, which Nigeria won 2-1.

” I love the Super Eagles, called the coach after the games against Leicester City, I was actually injured during the game” He said during the Super Eagles presser.

” Whenever i get called up for Nigeria, I want to give 100 per cent and I want to play for the Super Eagles.

“Whenever I’m out there, to be honest with you, I want to die on that pitch. I love the Super Eagles so much and I still want to represent Nigeria and make the whole nation proud.”

Captain of the Nigeria senior national team John Obi Mikel has reacted to his non appearance for Chelsea under new manager Antonio Conte.

Frozen out of the first team set up at Chelsea, Mikel gave his reaction during the Super Eagles media parley ahead of their World Cup 2018 game against Algeria in Uyo.

The Nigerian who have been at Chelsea for 11 seasons and has survived so many managers at the club, revealed he will make a decision about his future at the club in January.

“We will wait and see what happens in January,” he said. “For the first time in my career, this is happening to me and I have to stand up and deal with it. It is what it is but I’m training hard every day and I always wish the team the best and I am happy we are doing well.

“I’ve been at Chelsea a long time. Managers come and go, players come and go. I’ve been at Chelsea a long time and these things happen in football. So we will have to make that decision when January comes.”

Coach of the Super Eagles of Nigeria Gernot Rohr has revealed his doubts over the fitness of shot stopper Ikechukwu Ezenwa ahead of Nigeria’s World Cup 2018 qualifiers tie against Algeria.

Ezenwa has been deputy to first choice goalkepper Carl Ikeme in the first two games of the manager, and in the absence of the Wolverhampton Wanderers shot stopper many people expected the FC Ifeanyi Uba man to be in goal.

However Rohr appears to be leaning towards either Daniel Akpeyi or Dele Alampasu citing the lack of fitness of Ezenwa as a reason why he might not feature him against Algeria.

” I am confident in all three goalkeppers in camp. Akpeyi is playing regularly and so too Alampasu. I went to Lagos (Federation Cup Final) to see Ezenwa play but he was Cup ties. I’ve never seen him play a game live”. He said.

While defending his decision not to include home based players in his team. The German coach maintained his stand on their lack of match sharpness since the Nigeria League is on break.

” I maintain I cannot feature players who have stayed six weeks without action. It’s unfortunate but that’s how it is”.

Coach of the Nigerian national team Gernot Rohr has called out the agent of Dutch Nigerian Tyronne Ebuehi after the full back snub an invitation to be part of the Nigerian team for the World Cup 2018 qualifiers against Algeria.

Ebuehi was called up by Nigeria after speaking with coach Rohr but few days later the player told the official website of his club ADO Den Haag that he won’t be honouring the call by Nigeria.

The 20 year old said he will rather focus on his club form and will in the future honour subsequent call up to the Nigerian national team.

His agent Wessel Weezenberg was reportedly behind the statement released by ADO Den Haag on their official website according to various sources close to the family of the Dutch Nigerian.

Rohr was however coy on inviting the full back in the future due to the antics of his agent, whom he called a bad agent.

“We try to bring in Tyronne to solve our right back issues. Wilfred Ndidi did not do too badly against Zambia. I spoke to Tyronne and gave him eight days. He told me he would like to play for us”. He said.

” The problem is his agent, who is a bad agent, I don’t know if I will invite Tyronne in the future but this period was a good opportunity for him”.

Chelsea high flying wingback Victor Moses has revealed his preferred role on the pitch despite excelling as a wingback for Chelsea this season.

The Nigerian is predominantly a winger but can also play as a forward, but his new role as a wingback has seen him won over those who doubted his abilities as a player.

Moses has emerged as one of the first name on the team sheet in the starting line up at Chelsea under coach Antonio Conte’s 3-4-3 system.

However while the Nigerian is happy to contribute his quota to his team both at national and club level, he however admit that he is more comfortable as a forward.

” I can’t say am not happy playing as a wingback, am the type who give his all to his team regardless of where am playing from. Am a forward minded players but I don’t mind playing anywhere to help my team” He said.

” Club side and national team is not the same, I can’t say where the manager will play me but am ready to give my best in any role”.