The Super Eagles ‘B’ team arrived South Africa on Saturday and met up with coach Sunday Oliseh in Cape Town, officials have disclosed.
Ailing Oliseh was not part of the Eagles training camp in Abuja, but has now arrived South Africa for the final leg of the team’s build-up for the CHAN in Rwanda.
Twenty three players are in the training camp in South Africa and except for injury, all the players were named in the final squad for the tournament open only for those who are based in their various home leagues. However, Lobi Stars defender Samson Gbadebo will only join up with the rest of the squad early next week as his entry visa is being processed.
All the 23 players will be making their CHAN debut in Rwanda.
Super Eagles assistant coach Jean Losciuto has admitted that the physical condition of Nigerian players for the CAF African Nations Championship is far from being satisfactory.
Belgian-born Losciuto who was speaking in Lagos before the team left for South Africa said the coaches will use their brief stay in Pretoria to whip the boys into competition mood before they hit Rwanda, where they will play their group opener against Niger Republic on January 18.
“The physical condition of the players is yet to reach maximum level and this is not satisfactory.
“The altitude here in Abuja is not the same with the one we will experience in Rwanda, that was the reason we picked Pretoria as our pre-tournament camp site.
“As soon as we hit Pretoria, we will reach high altitude the same as in Rwanda. This will be good for the players and the training. I believe the problem of physical condition will be solved,” Losciuto told Brila FM.
The team will play against Angola on January 6, and then against Cote d’ Ivoire on January 11 before moving to Rwanda to start their CHAN campaign. The Eagles are the same group with Niger, Tunisia and Guinea.
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