The
2013 Africa Nations Cup star Sunday Mba is now a major doubt for next
month’s Championship for African Nations as he is set to join French
club Bastia, coach Stephen Keshi has said.
Keshi said in Abuja on Thursday that
Mba, was on his way to France to join Bastia, the French side which
first indicated interest in him after Nigeria’s Nations Cup triumph last
February in South Africa. Detail on the player’s move indicates that he
may leave the Eagles camp as early as Friday (today) for the European
country.
The Eagles manager said the early
departure plan has forced the coaching crew not to include the player in
the team for the friendly match in Port Harcourt on Saturday against a
Rivers selected side.
“We have resigned ourselves to fate and
working hard to discover those who can fill Mba’s shoes, as he seems to
have nicked a deal with Bastia and may not be part of CHAN tourney. We
just have to brace and wish him the best because it’s a career thing,”
Eagles assistant coach Dan Amokachi said.
Mba becomes the second player to quit
the team in the last 10 days. Golden Eaglets call-up Kelechi Iheanacho
also left the camp in search of a foreign club.
But it was not all about Mba on Boxing
Day in camp as Keshi and his assistants have begun the final pruning of
the team for the competition kicking off January 11 in South Africa.
Three players were cut on Thursday. Those who left camp were Sunshine
Stars Kingsley Eduwo; Bendel Insurance’s Bello Ikeleji and Eric Kwame of
Plateau United. More players are expected to exit the camp after the
training game in Port Harcourt, the team officials added. The last set
of players to be dropped will leave on Monday after the friendly match
against Nigerian league champions Kano Pillars.
Meanwhile, the Super Eagles medical team
has assured that Pillars Gambo Mohammed will be ready on time for the
CHAN tourney. Gambo who had been out with a harm-string problem
recovered last week but there was a relapse in the course of the week
which forced him out of Thursday’s morning training.
“He should be back and better,” Amokachi assured on the striker.
Both Gambo and Mba played for Nigeria at the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup in Brazil last June.
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