The last set of players arrived the Faro, Portugal camp of the national team early Sunday and some of them still find time to train with the rest of the squad same day as the bell tolls for the naming of the list of 23 players that will make the Afcon 2013 championship. The last two players to arrive camp were Villareal of Spain hitman, Ikechukwu Uche and Israeli based goalie, Austin Ejide.
By lunch time Sunday, 31 players including injured Rizespur of Turkey striker, Uche Kalu were in camp battling for shirts, as Head Coach, Big Boss Stephen Keshi took time off to drill the players on fitness and game reaction for over an hour under the early morning chilly condition of Faro.
At the end of the exercise it was obvious that all the players are primed for action in Afcon, as all turned out as early as 7:00am Portuguese time which was 8:00am Nigerian time. Keshi again took time off to drum it into the ears of the players that they should not pressurise themselves but must be aware that Nigerians are very expectant of a super outing at Afcon 2013.
Team Skipper, Joseph Tambarin Yobo, declared that he was in camp with his mates to make sure that the glory days of Nigerian football are returned with a major trophy. “We are here, ready to don the colours of our nation and we will not relent until we reach our goal. Luckily, we have a coaching crew that understand us well and I’m sure the players are ready to deliver”, Yobo was quoted as saying by Super Eagles media officer, Ben Alaiya