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In a confident mood, members of the Super Eagles departs MONASTIR for Sfax, venue of their last group game against Benin on Wednesday, www.nigeriasports.com take you through the inner circle of the team's preparation ahead of the "Sfax mission".

Aghahowa, Kanu declared fit

The injury scare which hit the Super Eagles camp immediately after the game against South Africa has been allayed.

Two of the country's prominent strikers, Nwankwo Kanu and Julius Aghahowa both of whom were feared injured and out of the game against Benin Republic have both passed the fitness test.

According to inside sources, Julius Aghahowa underwent a scan test immediately after Saturday’s game to determine the extent of injury to his right hand but the result showed the player to be suffering from a light strain and not a major one as been speculated.

As if that was not enough cheering news, Nwankwo Kanu who limped out of the South Africa game in what look like a relapse of the injury sustained during the 2002 world cup opening match against Argentina, was also a part of the teams training this Monday evening.

…Udeze returns
Meanwhile, the confederation of African football (CAF) has cleared Super Eagles left full back, Ifeanyi Udeze to start featuring for the Nigerian team in the ongoing African cup of Nations.

The PAOK Salonica of Greece defender had been banned for two matches as a punishment for a red card offence during the last Nations cup qualifying match between Nigeria and Angola played in Benin City. The former West Brom of England player was sent off for retaliation, an offence which automatically carries a two match suspension.

Udeze is expected to play his first match for the Eagles in the ongoing nation’s cup against Benin Republic on Wednesday serving as a replacement for Celestine Babayaro who was sent home alongside two other players for breaking camp rules.

Chukwu locks out journalists

For the second time in a week, Coach Christian Chukwu prevented the Nigerian journalists from watching the Eagles in training Monday evening.

According to Chukwu, the team needs total concentration ahead of the Benin game.

Eagles in confident mood

The Super Eagles departed their Kuriat palace Hotel here in Monastir at exactly 10am for Sfax, venue of tomorrow’s all important clash against Benin Republic which will either guarantee or mar a quarter final placing for the Nigerian side.

The team, dressed in its largely green background and black stripes T-shirt and all black joggers, waved goodbye to the handful of officials and Journalists around with a promise to return with a quarter final ticket.

"We will take the match more seriously than the previous ones” responded Christian Chukwu.
 
 "We still are not there but with the support of the fans, we will qualify and move forward for
sure”, echoed the teams skipper, Austin Okocha.
 
"We will try to keep the fans back home happy,we will try”, added Austin Eguavoen, the teams assistant coach while Ikpe Ekong, yet to see action in this competition but highly favoured to taste action in tomorrows match, also seized the opportunity to pray for the fans

"God bless the Nigerian people back home, they should also keep praying for the team".

Nigeria on a spy mission
Meanwhile, the teams other assistant coach, Bitrus Bewerang, didn’t travel with the Eagles rather he stayed over at the teams hotel here in Monastir while our investigations revealed that the former flying Eagles coach has been assigned the responsibility of spying on the Cameroon Vs Egypt game and reporting back to the team on how to plan match strategies as the Nigerian team might be playing any of the two teams in the next stage of the competition.

The one time Wikki Tourist of Bauchi tactician, www.nigeriasports.com reliably gathered, will travel down to Sfax immediately after the match but will not be a part of the Eagles training scheduled for 6pm today, same time with tomorrows game.
                       

Additional reports by Adewole Opatola