Just as the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) had adjusted the Super Eagles departure date in order to avoid the harsh effect of the Ndola weather in Zambia, the Eagles technical crew have also adjusted the team’s training programmes so as to acquaint the players with playing under the unfriendly weather.
The Eagles yesterday resumed training under scorching sun at the practice pitch of the Abuja National Stadium.
The training which started by 2.00pm lasted for two hours where the players sweated profusely receiving cheers from the pocket of fans who were falling on each other to have pictures with the players.
Meanwhile the Abuja fans have not hidden their joy since the commencement of training in Abuja ahead of the match as they broke police and other security details to have a feel of their favourite players at the stadium.
There was a mild drama as some of the players hurriedly raced into the waiting team bus immediately after training yesterday to avoid the incidence of Wednesday when the fans mobbed the players, even as Premiership duo of Kelechi Iheanacho and Alex Iwobi could not escape the fans who struggled to touch and snap with them.
While Mikel was the first to jump into the official team bus, with other foreign-based players like Ogenyi Onazi, Carl Ikeme, it was not same for others like Iheanacho and Iwobi who were surrounded by the fans.
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Police Force has revealed that it took the intervention of five armed policemen to rescue Eagles captain, John Mikel Obi from the mob that invaded the pitch shortly after the Eagles training match with Plateau United FC on Wednesday evening.
Super Eagles chief security officer, ACP Baba Abubakar, who made the disclosure while reacting unofficially to the ugly incidence at the mainbowl of the Abuja National Stadium, tactically attributed the situation to security lapses.
“What happened on Wednesday was very unfortunate really. But we will take correction from it. I had ordered our men to securely lock the gate before the end of the match but somebody had given a counter order to allow the journalists entry into the pitch.
