NRFF names 23 for 1C Africa Cup

The Nigerian Rugby Football Federation (NRFF) has picked 23 players for the Africa Cup 1C Championship billed to kick off in Zambia on June 21.

Nine of the players are from the current South West Rugby League leaders, Cowrie RFC.

According to the Federation, the team will embark on a two-week camping exercise in Zambia next weekend to expose and prepare the players ahead of the high altitude condition expected during the competition.

The two-week trip is part of a detailed conditioning programme designed by the technical team of the Nigeria Rugby Football Federation (NRFF) to ensure that the Fabian Juries-led national team arrived at the tournament in good shape.

The Black Stallions will be competing alongside Zambia and Zimbabwe to gain  promotion into Cup 1B, which the federation says is a step closer its target.

Speaking on the championship, NRFF Technical Director, Olatunji Fasimoye, says, “We are excited to name this squad which allows us to look at a wide group of players, who have been pushing hard for selection through their performance in the various leagues.”

Some experienced players within the squad include Bayo Odumosu-Jones, Scrum half; Sani Halilu and Emmanuel Godwin.

Fasimoye also noted that the Nigerian team will move up to the elite division if they emerge tournament winners, adding that the Stallions are fighting hard to meet Kenya, Namibia and Zimbabwe who are already in Cup 1A .

The invited rugby players are Ayinla Hafis Ademola  (Cowrie RFC)
Ayewe Emmanuel Senior (Racing RFC), Samuel Emmanuel Bamidele (Plateau RFC), Akeju Francis Sunday (Platuea RFC), Godwin Emmanuel Chinedu (Delta RFC), Sani Isaac Cato (Cowrie RFC) Oduola Sodiq Kofoworola (Cowrie RFC) and Odumosu-Jones Hakeem Adebayo (Lagos RFC).