Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Super Eagles World Cup camp opens May 15

Super Eagles 2010 FIFA World Cup training camp is to flag off on May 15 at the Richards Bay in South Africa although the Hampshire Hotel in Durban will be the team's base for the duration of their first round games.


The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) delegation led by president Sani Lulu Abdullahi, who was in South Africa at the weekend inspecting the venues and finally picked the Hampshire, a new, 107-room hotel which does not open its doors until the end of February. The squad will leave for Durban on June 6, six days before the Super Eagles play Argentina in their first game of the Mundial.


Also on the inspection trip were executive committee member Taiwo Ogunjobi, general secretary Bolaji Ojo-Oba, head of marketing Adama Idriss and media officer Idah Peterside.


The Nigerian team appears to have fallen in love with Durban. The Super Eagles camped in Durban to prepare for the 27th African Cup of Nations in Angola where the two-time cup winners ended up with the bronze that has now truncated Coach Shaibu Amodu's dream of leading the team to the World Cup.


Meanwhile, the NFF has restated that their arrangements for the Super Eagles to play Paraguay in an international friendly on March 3 are still on course, despite reports that the South Americans will be playing Ghana on the same date.


NFF Secretary General Bolaji Ojo-Oba said yesterday that the Glass House is aware of the reports linking Paraguay with Ghana, but said they had received reassurances from the Paraguayans that their arrangements with Nigeria were still in place.


"We are aware of the rumours that they want to play Ghana. we contacted them as soon as we saw it, and they assured us that that was not true," Ojo-Oba told kickoff.com Sunday night. "We will definitely play Paraguay on March 3 in London."


"They are sending the contract over to us on Monday. We will look at it, and if all goes as agreed, we will sign it and return it to them."


A venue is yet to be picked for the game, according to Ojo-Oba, who says the Paraguayans are handling those arrangements.


"They are the ones taking care of that part of the arrangements and speaking with the English FA."


Ojo-Oba's position appears to be given credence by the international fixture list on the FIFA website. A week ago, Paraguay versus Ghana was listed as one of the friendly games for March 3, but has now been taken off the calendar.


Nigeria have been drawn with Argentina, Greece and South Korea for the World Cup in June.


This Day


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