Soccer News of Sunday, 7 August 2011

Source: mtnfootball.com

Nigeria's Enyeama out of Ghana clash

Super Eagles will face rivals Ghana on Tuesday minus top stars led by Vincent Enyeama as they do not have visas into the UK.

Also without visas are Ehiosun Ekigho, Israel-based defender Efe Ambrose and Fengor Ogude, who is based in Norway.

An unhappy Eagles coach Samson Siasia told MTNFootball.com: "I am not happy that I will be playing against Ghana without four key players, Vincent Enyeama, Efe Ambrose, Fengor Ogude and Ekhigo Ehiosun.

"These players are key to our rebuilding exercise and they are also very vital to our preparations for the Africa Nations Cup qualifier against Madagascar.

"Like we all know we want to use the friendly against Ghana in London to prepare well for the must-win match against Madagascar and the UK visa problem is now acting as a stumbling block.”

He added, “Right now I want to call the NFF technical committee boss, Christopher Green, to inform him of this present predicament as see what solution the NFF could offer because I am very desperate to win this friendly.”

Defender Danny Shittu will be a likely late inclusion and team officials informed MTNFootball.com he has assured them he will join up with the rest of the squad on Monday.

Heartland star Chibuzor Okonkwo will travel with NFF officials from Nigeria on Sunday.

Siasia blamed the affected players for not acting promptly in respect of their UK visa applications.

"There are some things one needs to do right in time. I expect these guys to have applied for the visas from their respective bases in time since we are not travelling from Nigeria which could have helped this situation,” said Siasia, who arrived London Friday.

“This definitely cannot help our rebuilding process and I am really going to address this to forestall re-occurrence in future.

"Nevertheless, we will still try our best not to let down Nigeria in this important friendly. But sincerely speaking I’m not happy with the situation at all."