Expectedly, the mood in the national team’s camp took an upward swing, at Wednesday’s training session following the arrival of players of Heartland of Owerri and Warri Wolves from continental club assignments as well as the home-coming of Turkey based striker, Ekigho Ehiosun.

Star players like defender, Azubuike Egwueke, midfielder Uche Ossai, striker Sunday Mba, who scored twice against Liberia Lone Star in a friendly and goalkeeper and skipper, Chigozie Agbim, made things look different in training. Heartland added fillip with keeper Dan Akpeyi and winger Obinna Nwachukwu and effectively the battle for the 17 spots for Lima, Peru has started.

After light work out supervised by Coach Sylvanus Okpala, Keshi took charge of the day’s training with novel  styles that he hopes will put the players in shape against their South American opponents.

Home Based Super Eagles arriving for a Media Parley at their Camp in Abuja on Wednesday (16/5/12).

He was to explain later;  “any South American team play possessional football, they won’t allow you touch the ball but when they know you can match them skill for skill, they respect you. That is what I’m preparing your minds for in Peru”, he told the players.

Ehiosun looked fresh from his exploits in the Turkish league and was quick on the ball when he played for the possibles against the probables, later at training. It was an interesting sight to behold as Keshi assumed the role of referee in the game won by the probables 3-1.

On a not too positive note, Kwara United striker, Barnabas Imenger, may have ruled himself out of considerations for the trip to Lima, as he was yet to resume training by Wednesday morning. The medics were still working on his troublesome knee and even Keshi took several minutes during training to personally assess the player’s recovery rate.

In all, 25 players trained Wednesday and the list is expected to be pruned to 17 by the weekend for the trip to Lima, the Peruvian capital.