Iheanacho, Ekong, Ndidi, 14 other Eagles arrive Austria for Cameroon friendly

SUPER Eagles players have started arriving in Vienna, Austria for Friday’s friendly against Cameroon.

There were doubts about the match going ahead after a spate of withdrawals hit the team, but the available players started reporting to camp on Tuesday.

First to arrive was William Troost-Ekong, the team’s vice-captain.

The defender helped Watford gain promotion back to the Premier League and has been sharing videos of himself keeping fit since the end of the English Championship season in May.

Joining him later on Tuesday were six other players and goalkeeping coach Alloy Agu.

Leicester City forward Kelechi Iheanacho, who had his best season in terms of goals in the just concluded campaign, was one of the players that landed in Vienna on Tuesday afternoon.

He arrived alongside Galatasaray midfielder Oghenekaro Etebo, new call-up Marcus Abraham, Cyprus-based Shehu Abdullahi as well as Enyimba pair Anayo Iwuala and John Noble.

Nigeria-Cameroon International Friendly

Also in the team’s camp according to the team’s media officer Femi Raji are goalkeepers Maduka Okoye and Francis Uzoho, Alex Iwobi, Wilfred Ndidi, Chidozie Awaziem, Jamilu Collins, Valentine Ozonwafor, Terem Moffi, Peter Olayinka and Samson Tijani.

Super Eagles head coach Gernot Rohr had expressed worry that he might not be able to raise a full team for the friendly because of the players pulling out.

But with 17 players now in camp and more to arrive in Vienna later on Tuesday and Wednesday, the match will be played.

Neighbours Nigeria and Cameroon have a long rivalry, which has seen them meet in three finals of the Africa Cup of Nations (1984, 1988 and 2000). The Indomitable Lions beat the Super Eagles in all the three finals although the Nigerians have had the better results in recent times, including wins at the 2004 AFCON quarter-finals, the 2018 World Cup qualifiers and the round of 32 of the 2019 AFCON.