Nigeria’s national team, the Super Eagles on Friday morning landed in the United Arab Emirates for the two international friendlies against Cote d’Ivoire and Sudan later in the month.
The Emirates Airliner that the team boarded from the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja on Thursday night landed at the Dubai International Airport at about 5:30am local time, which is 2:30am in Nigeria. After airport formalities the team of 19 players and officials took a jolly bus ride from Dubai to Abu Dhabi, a journey of about an hour.
On hand to welcome the team was new face Steven Ukoh, who plays his football with Swiss side, FC Biel. He was quite joyous to link up with the Nigerian team for the first time and declared that he can’t remember ever Nigeria, except as a child. But his quick mix-up with the rest of the players whom he has never met before must be commended.
The team is quartered at the serene Crown Plaza Hotel in Abu Dhabi and will have its first training session by 7:30pm local time, which is 4:30pm in Nigeria to start preparations for its first match against the Ivoriens January 12.