Super Eagles players landed in the United States on the final leg of their pre-World Cup camping on Thursday evening, kickOffNigeria.com reports.
The team left London on Thursday morning and will begin preparations for the June 3 meeting against Greece immediately.
Team officials said training will hold on Friday morning at the Lincoln Financial Field.
Stephen Keshi’s squad of 30 will be cut to the final 23 on June 2, in time to meet the FIFA deadline.
Sunday Mba’s World Cup hopes may be over after the midfielder failed to report at the Nigeria camp.
The midfielder was due to report with the rest of the squad on Monday, but was one of two players who failed to make it citing travel hitches from France.
The other, Nnamdi Oduamadi made it by the Tuesday deadline given by Stephen Keshi. However, as at departure time to the stadium on yesterday evening for the friendly against Scotland, Mba was yet to show up.
A team official told KickOffNigeria.com that the player’s World Cup may be effectively over.
“The coach was very clear about the deadline to report to camp. Anyone who is not in camp by now, can consider his World Cup chances over.”
Team Media Officer Ben Alaiya confirmed that Mba had not arrived by Wednesday evening.
“We are at the stadium now, and Mba is not with us. It is fair to say that his World Cup hopes are over.”
Senate President, David Mark, on Monday urged the Super Eagles to do the nation proud at the forthcoming FIFA World Cup in Brazil.
Mark in a goodwill message to the players and officials reminded them that Nigerians are solidly behind them in the quest for glory.
The Chief Press Secretary to the Senate President, Paul Mumeh, in a statement in Abuja quoted Mark as saying “with team spirit and total commitment, there is no team in the world you cannot conquer. I am hopeful that you will do us proud in Brazil.
“As reigning African Champions, the huge responsibility is on us to prove a point that Africans have come of age in the global football tournament. I am optimistic that you know the huge responsibility and be ready to defend your fatherland and indeed the continent.”
He enjoined the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and the Ministry of Sports, not to leave anything to chance in the prosecution of the championship.
He noted that sports especially football remain potential ingredient for all Nigerians irrespective of political affiliation, religion or ethnic leanings to achieve peace and unity.
Mark added: “It is instructive to note that any time Nigeria is playing. All of us forget our differences. No religion. No politics and no ethnic consideration. Every one speaks with one tongue; Nigeria, Nigeria and Nigeria. So, if sports would bring the much needed peace and unity, it is only logical that we focus more on sports in all ramifications.”
He praised the management and officials of the NFF including the Director-General of the Sports Commission, Gbenga Elegbeleye, the President of NFF, Aminu Maigari and Coach Stephen Keshi.
He reiterated the need for cooperation in order to achieve the objective.
The Super Eagles left Abuja on Sunday for preparatory friendly matches with Scotland, United States and Greece before heading to Brazil for FIFA’s premier soccer tournament starting on June 12.
The Nigeria Football and other Sports Supporters’ Club (NFSSC) on Friday launched a World Cup sticker campaign titled: “Goodluck to Super Eagles.”
At the launch of the stickers, President-General of the NFSSC, Rafiu Ladipo, said the “Goodluck to Super Eagles initiative is geared towards ensuring that the Super Eagles get maximum support during the 2014 World Cup.
Ladipo further revealed that aside the stickers; the club will also produce banners, flyers and t-shirts as a source of support to the team.
“This is just the beginning of what to expect from the Supporters’ Club at the Mundial because we want to ensure that the Super Eagles get maximum support to enable them excel in Brazil,” KickOffNigeria.com quoted Ladipo as saying at the forum.
Fenerbache striker Emmanuel Emenike has promised to score goals as much as necessary to aid Nigeria’s success at the World Cup in Brazil.
Goal reports that Emenike enjoyed his best-ever season at the heart of Fenerbahce’s attack, leading the club to its 19th league title with 12 league goals and nine assists in 29 matches.
The bulky attacker declined setting any goal target for himself at the World Cup.
“Individually, I have nothing to prove and I just hope to prove it well,” Goal quoted Emenike as saying to Africanfootball.com.
“I know the duty of a striker is to score goals at every tournament, I am aware of that and I am preparing to be at the right time to score the much-needed goals to help my nation do well. But I have no World Cup goals’ target.
“Nigeria’s success is my target at the World Cup,” he said.
The 27-year-old said Super Eagles will bring joy to Africa in South America.
“I believe we will make Nigerians and the entire continent of Africa proud in Brazil,” he said.
Super Eagles striker, Emmanuel Emenike, has responded swiftly to threats coming from Argentina’s super star, Lionel Messi, warning that underrating Nigeria will be at the South Americans’ peril when the World Cup kicks off next month.
The Fenerbahce of Turkey power-playing forward said the Eagles will approach the game like any other, as there will be no special feelings playing against the star-studded Albiceleste.
Messi has reportedly cautioned Group F opponents that they would have their hands full as he prepares to lead the two-time world champions’ attack at the mundial.
“I don’t want to be particular about Argentina, every team is important, and they are not better than other countries in the group,” said told The Nation.
He continued: “Everyone is entitled to his opinion when it comes to football, exchanging words over matches that have not been played is unnecessary and distracting. We are not going to be distracted by their threats. The truth is that they are underrating us which I think it’s good for us. They are a very good side no doubt but the best team also loses matches.
“Sometimes it’s not about self ability. Argentina is dependent on Messi, but the Eagles team is not built around any particular player. We depend on collective abilities and that gives us an edge. They (Argentina) can underrate us if they like, but that will be at their own peril. Nigeria will approach each game with as much maturity as we can. Messi must know that he alone cannot play all the positions. “
Emenike said what Nigerians should pray for is the grace of God, and not focus on human abilities as the World Cup comes calling.
Vincent Enyeama is confident the Super Eagles will go as far as the semi-finals at the FIFA World Cup which will commence in Brazil next month.
The goalkeeper, who was voted the best African footballer in the French Ligue 1 this past season, stated that Nigeria will make history this time despite the fact that the continental champions had failed to progress beyond the first round in their last two outings.
“I think we are going to make big progress,” KickOffNigeria.com quoted Enyeama as saying on FIFA’s official website.
“We are focused on the World Cup, to make Africa the proudest continent. Ghana almost reached the semi-finals four years ago. We are going to achieve a better result and be the first African team to get to the semi-finals of the World Cup.”
Nigeria had been paired in Group F alongside Argentina, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Iran, and Enyeama is confident Nigeria will progress from the group.
The 31-year-old, who will be making his third appearance at the World Cup, is also coming up against Argentina for the third time. He was on the bench for Nigeria during the 2002 Korea/Japan World Cup, and manned the posts against the South Americans four years ago in South Africa.
The Nigeria Football Federation’s (NFF) technical committee has moved to absolve itself of blame in the controversy surrounding the provisional list of players to represent Nigeria at the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.
Super Eagles head coach, Stephen Keshi, named several unfit players and some who do not play regularly for their European clubs, attracting criticism from the media and fans alike.
Members of the NFF’s technical committee were also criticized as Keshi had first submitted the list to them for “vetting” before it was made public.
The Chairman of the NFF technical committee, Chris Green, has now declared that the body was not wrong in approving the list submitted by Keshi.
“We (technical committee) fully relied on the position of the Chief coach of the Super Eagles, Stephen Keshi on the players he chose.
“We relied on him to ascertain the fitness levels of the players. At the time he gave us this list, I am sure that by his findings, he was sure the players were fit.
“If anything had happened after the list was submitted, I may not be aware,”supersport.com quoted Green as saying on Nigeria Info FM.
He also noted that “there is no cause for alarm” as injured players in the list would ultimately be dropped.
“There is no cause for alarm because what we have now is a 30-man list. Seven players will be dropped and the list will be pruned down to 23.
“So in the case of any player in that list being injured, I am sure the coach knows what to do,” he said.
Bnei Yehuda’s goalkeeper, Dele Aiyenugba , has said he deserves a place in Nigeria’s World Cup squad but insists he holds no grudges over his exclusion from the team, KickOffNigeria.com reports.
The Nigeria international goalkeeper reiterated his desire to stay relevant within the national set-up, but added that he remains bound by the decision of Stephen Keshi.
“When you desire something and you don’t get it, you continue to work to get it. I deserve a place in the (provisional) list, but since the coach excludes me, I have to respect his decision.
“I love my country and I will jump at a chance to come back again, the joy of a player is to play for his country,” Aiyenugba said.
The former Enyimba man endorsed the 30-man provisional list released by Keshi, reasserting his belief that the Super Eagles will go beyond the first round of FIFA’s flagship event.
Former Green Eagles skipper, Henry Nwosu, has insisted that Super Eagles will not miss the services of Ikechukwu Uche and Chinedu Obasi at the 2014 FIFA World Cup starting next month in Brazil.
Uche and Obasi were excluded from coach Stephen Keshi’s 30-man provisional World Cup list released on Tuesday evening.
In a chat with Goal, Nwosu who is Gateway United’s head coach is confident that players invited by Keshi will defy all odds to make the nation proud.
“We have a very good squad and with this, we are sure of doing well at the World Cup because we have our star players there,” Nwosu told Goal.
“It is now left for those whose inclusion has steered controversy to prove their worth before the world.
“The absence of the likes of Uche and Ideye [Brown] will definitely not be a minus as long as those invited prove their mettle. But if the reverse is the case, then people would naturally feel their absence.
“Obasi wouldn’t have made any difference if invited because he is just returning from injury. I know him too well and he is a good and determined player but unfortunately he is not in his best form.
“In the real sense, he wouldn’t have made the squad because it will be very difficult for Keshi to drop his regular players for him.
“IK Uche on his own part has got scores to settle with Keshi and his crew because reports have it that he does not feel too good any time he comes in from the bench which makes him not to give his best . This kind of attitude is not good for the success of the team,” Nwosu told Goal.