CHAN Eagles to depart for Morocco Monday

By Ikenna Osuoha
The home-based Super Eagles will depart Nigeria on Monday for the Championship of African Nations (CHAN) holding in Morocco, team Head Coach Salisu Yusuf said on Saturday in Abuja.

The coach told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that his 23-man squad would be heading for glory as they had prepared very well for the competition.

“We are prepared for what we are going for, and we are sure we will return with glory,” he said.

NAN reports that the CHAN Eagles team comprises three goalkeepers, eight defenders, four midfielders and eight strikers.

Some of the players, including Ikechukwu Ezenwa, who is the team captain, Stephen Eze, and Austin Obaroakpo, also featured prominently in the 2016 edition of the competition in Rwanda.

Current Nigeria Professional Football League top scorer Anthony Okpotu, Dayo Ojo, Okechukwu Gabriels and Abdullahi Musa will be making their debut at the championship which is now in its fifth edition.

Nigeria is participating for the third time in the championship since its inception in 2009 in Cote d’Ivoire, with the Eagles playing their opening match on Jan. 15 against Rwanda.

Nigeria’s best outing was at South Africa in 2014, where they came third with Ejike Uzoenyi emerging as the best player.

NAN reports that the championship is designed for players who ply their trade in their various countries’ professional league.

This 2018 edition, with 16 teams participating, will kick off on Jan. 13 and end on Feb. 4.