Heartland of Owerri goalkeeper, Ikechukwu Ezenwa pulled off a an amazing stunt on Tuesday, as he turned up uninvited into the Super Eagles’ camp in Benin City, megasportsarena.com gathered.
In what could be the most daring move by any home-based player in the Nigerian national team’s camp ever, Ezenwa showed that he is ready to stage a dramatic battle for a shirt in this Friday’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Sierra Leone.
In what could be a move reminiscent of the attempt by Austria-based shot-stopper, Okiki Lawal to get a shirt with the Eagles’ before their international friendlies against Algeria and Tunisia last month in the country where he is based, Ezenwa tried to swiong the pendulum in his direction as well.
Such it was that Ezenwa was spotted among the squad as they headed out for training, though official reactions indicated that the former Enyimba of Aba and Katsina United keeper might only last one night at the camp in Benin City before heading off back to his club, as they prepare to resume action in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) next weekend.
As it were, Ezenwa was not named in the original squad list because he has been inactive since March, but he opted to try his luck and soon hobnobbed in the Eagles’ camp alongside the officially included duo of Sebastian Osigwe from FC Lugano of Switzerland and Emil Maduka Okoye from Sparta Rotterdam of Holland.
They were joined by skipper of the side, Ahmed Musa as well as Germany-based Kevin Akpoguma, FC Porto of Portugal left-back, Zaidu Sanusi, Tyronne Ebuehi and returnee Oghenekaro Etebo, who missed the friendlies against Algeria and Tunisia on account of injury.
Osigwe and Okoye are seeking to make their competitive debuts for Nigeria against The Leone Stars, and would become cap-tied to the three-time African champions if handed minutes in any of the two matches; same as Akpoguma, as the former Germany U20 skipper has made a one-time switch to represent the Eagles.
They all commenced training on Tuesday along with the British quintet of Everton winger Alex Iwobi, Fulham fullback Ola Aina, Watford’s William Troost-Ekong and Glasgow Rangers’ duo of Joe Aribo and Leon Aderemi Balogun in the Edo State capital.
