Eagles hit Uyo today as Ramadan fast threatens team’s preparations

The Super Eagles are expected to depart for Uyo from Abuja today to continue their preparation for the Cameroun 2019 African Nations Cup (AFCON) qualifier against South Africa. The match is billed for the Godswill Akpabio Stadium on June 10.

The Eagles were in France in the last two weeks preparing for the game some friendlies against Corsica and Togo. And now the team, together with some of the players that did not make the Paris camp, are expected to continue their build up to the game tomorrow.

Speaking with The Guardian yesterday, Super Eagles’ Media Officer, Toyin Ibitoye said the invited players, who could not make it to France, were expected to join their colleagues in their Abuja camp last night to enable the team depart for Uyo this morning.

He said: “The Eagles will leave for Uyo from Abuja Monday. All the remaining players are to be in Abuja on Sunday evening. The Eagles are ready to face South Africa and Coach Gernot Rohr has advised the boys to show him in training why they must be picked in the team against South Africa.

“The players will be training twice daily in Uyo,’’ he said.Meanwhile, Super Eagles Muslim stars, Ahmed Musa and Shehu Abdullahi have insisted on observing the Ramadan fasting even during preparations for the upcoming AFCON qualifier against South Africa.

This is despite pleas by coach Rohr they should at least defer it.Alhassan Ibrahim ‘Muazzam’ and fresh call-up Moroof Youssef of Zamalek are the other players on the 23-man squad who also insist on the Ramadan fast.

According to SCORENigeria, a team official said Ahmed Musa and Shehu fasted during the friendly against Togo in Paris and an unhappy Rohr hauled them off after the first half.

Interestingly, Ahmed Musa still scored twice within the first 17 minutes to give the Eagles a healthy lead.Both players are expected to start against South Africa on June 10 in Uyo, but they may well have limited game time because Rohr does not expect them to last the distance as a result of the fast.