Send flight tickets if you need your players, coaches tell clubs

Home-based Super Eagles’ coaches preparing for the 2018 CHAN qualifiers in Kano have asked clubs seriously seeking the services of their players for this weekend’s league games to send return tickets to the players or forget about using them in the matches.

Speaking to The Guardian yesterday, Eagles Media Officer, Toyin Ibitoye noted that the Coach Salisu Yusuf-led technical crew made this demand because the coaches want the clubs to ensure the players don’t make long haul travels by road going and returning to the camp.

Ibitoye said the coaches noticed that players’ long trips by road to their clubs last weekend impacted negatively on the preparations for the CHAN qualifiers.

“Players will be released to their clubs for this weekend’s NPFL matches but the coaches want the clubs to ensure the players do not go through long journeys, which affect them in training. The coaches are conscious of the players’ fitness for the CHAN qualifiers.

“The players will only be released if flight tickets are sent to them,” he said.

The team resumed training yesterday at the Sani Abacha Stadium Kano.‎

The players were given a three-day break to play for their various clubs in the Nigeria Professional Football League at the weekend.

The team will play first leg of their 2018 CHAN qualifier against Benin Republic on August 13 in Cotonou and return to Kano for the second and decisive leg.