•Team departs Saturday

The duo of Super Eagles captain Mikel John Obi and Turkey-based Kenneth Omeruo have stormed the team’s camp in Abuja Monday night, while other players like, Kenneth Omeruo, William Troost-Ekong among others swelled the number of players in camp.

Mikel and Omeruo joined other stars like Carl Ikeme, Ikechukwu Ezenwa, Emmanuel Daniel, Elderson Echiejile, Jamiu Alimi, Anderson Esiti, Moses Simon, Musa Muhammed Chisom Egbuchulam, Jamiu Alimi, Uche Agbo, Nosa Igiebor, Brown Ideye and William Troost Ekong.

Captain Mikel proved his fitness as he participated in the team first training session in Abuja ahead of cracker.

The session lead by coach Gernot Rohr had 20 players in attendance at the training pitch of the National Stadium in Abuja ahead of the World Cup 2018 clash against Zambia in Ndola.

It was a light session primarily done to help the players shake up the fatigue of flying down from their various destinations in Europe, ahead of the game on Sunday October 9.

As usual Mikel led the team putting them through their paces by means of a light jog before stretches and ball work was done.

Head coach Gernot Rohr and his assistant also took part in the session with the 64 year old German showing his fitness once again by joining them in the light jog.

He did same in Uyo while the Eagles were in camp ahead of the dead rubber AFCON 2017 tie against Tanzania.

The team will play Plateau United according to camp officials so that German coach Gernot Rohr can ascertain the fitness level of the three-time African champions ahead of the Zambia clash. Earlier, Super Eagles captain John Mikel Obi had assured Senate President Bukola Saraki of a great game against Zambia as he declared himself fit amidst reports of a muscle injury.

Saraki, who is the owner of lower league side ABS FC, tweeted his encounter with Mikel as follows: “Had the pleasure of hosting @mikel_john_obi today and nice to get to know him off the pitch; assures of a great game against Zambia.”

Contrary to earlier travel arrangement of the team’s departure on Friday the Eagles will now depart Abuja on Saturday morning via a chartered flight.

This was made known by the team’s media officer Toyin Ibitoye, who said: “We will now leave for Zambia early on Saturday morning. It is a direct flight and it will be five hours by air. The coaches have thought it out, they want us to train as many times as possible in Abuja and also rest well before match day.

“It won’t be counter-productive, we will get there in good time, rest well and have a feel of the pitch before we play.”