Hope rises for Balogun, as Eagles hit Kaduna today

Injury-hit Germany-based defender Leon Balogun could still play a role in Nigeria’s African Nations Cup two-legged qualifier against Egypt, according to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), reports africanfootball.com.

The report quotes NFF as saying that it is programming Balogun, who is nursing hamstring complaint, for the return leg in Alexandria on Tuesday next week.

Balogun’s Bundesliga club Mainz 05 announced the defender’s injury, adding he will be out for some time.

In the meantime, England –based goalkeeper Carl Ikeme, defenders Efe Ambrose and Abdullahi Shehu, midfielders Kelechi Iheanacho and Azubuike Okechukwu and forwards Ahmed Musa, Moses Simon, Victor Moses and Fanendo Adi were being expected to land in Abuja yesterday night.

South Africa–based goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi, defenders Stanley Amuzie and Elderson Echiejile and midfielder Ogenyi Onazi were expected in Lagos last night and would travel to Abuja by first flight today.

Arsenal prodigy Alex Iwobi was the first overseas –based player to arrive in the Super Eagles’ camp in Abuja, on Sunday, before Turkey–based Umar Aminu and Godfrey Oboabona, and John Mikel Obi, Odion Ighalo and Aaron Samuel.