Naija Super Eagles camp don full house for Antalya, Turkey as team captain Wilfred Ndidi arrive Wednesday afternoon. But di celebration dey mixed with bad news as Fulham defender Calvin Bassey don pull out of di two international friendlies against Iran and Jordan because of back injury wey e carry from Premier League match.
Di Super Eagles media officer Promise Efoghe confirm say Ndidi don join di 22 players wey dey camp already. Di Besiktas midfielder go join di team first training session tonight as head coach Eric Chelle dey prepare for Friday match against Iran. Bassey injury mean say Chelle go work with 22 players for di two friendlies.
For China, di football scene dey hot with youth revolution. Di Chinese U23 national team wey just finish as runner-up for Under-23 Asian Cup don shift focus to Asian Games for September. Head coach Antonio Puche talk for Xi’an say di past don write finish and dem dey march toward brighter future.
Di success of di U23 team don cause big changes for senior national team. Ten players from U23 squad don get call-up to senior team wey dey prepare for friendlies against Curacao and Cameroon for Australia. Coach Shao Jiayi dey work with mix of experienced players and young talents like 19-year-old forward Wang Yudong and 21-year-old midfielder Xu Bin.
Football commentator Zhang Bin explain say dis blending of generations na deliberate preparation for 2028 Olympics. Mao Jiale, another sports commentator, talk say for too long, young Chinese players dey like seedlings for greenhouse but now di greenhouse door don open for international exposure.
Back to Naija matter, di Super Eagles go face Iran for Friday by 4pm Turkey time (2pm Nigeria time). Na di third meeting between both countries. Nigeria win di first friendly 1-0 for 1998 and di 2014 World Cup group match end 0-0. Di match against Jordan go hold Tuesday by 8pm Turkey time (6pm Nigeria time).
Coach Chelle squad contain mix of experienced players and new faces. Alex Iwobi with 96 caps and Moses Simon with 95 caps dey among di wise old heads. New players wey dey step into di patio for first time include defender Emmanuel Oluwasegun Fernandez and forwards Collins Yira Sor and Philip Otele.
For women football, South Africa Banyana Banyana coach Desiree Ellis talk say international friendlies against Algeria for April and Japan for June go help dem prepare for Women Africa Cup of Nations for Morocco later dis year. Ellis say Algeria go bring physical challenge while Japan go test dem technically.
Di full Super Eagles squad for di friendlies include goalkeepers Maduka Okoye, Adeleye Adebayo and Francis Uzoho. Defenders na Oluwasemilogo Ajayi, Bright Osayi-Samuel, Bruno Onyemaechi, Zaidu Sanusi, Igoh Ogbu and Emmanuel Fernandez. Midfielders na Alex Iwobi, Frank Onyeka, Wilfred Ndidi, Raphael Onyedika and Fisayo Dele-Bashiru. Forwards na Ademola Lookman, Samuel Chukwueze, Simon Moses, Chidera Ejuke, Paul Onuachu, Akor Adams, Philip Otele and Collins Yira Sor.
Di China football development plan dey show for multiple levels. Aside from senior and U23 teams, di U19 national team don assemble for Yiwu for friendlies against Australia while U16 side dey prepare for Montaigu football tournament for France for early April.
Veteran midfielder Wang Shaoyuan talk say both senior players and newcomers dey give their all for training sessions. Defender Liu Haofan wey make name through quality defending at U23 Asian Cup say di runners-up finish don boost confidence for young players at national team.
As international friendlies dey hold worldwide, teams dey use di opportunity to test new players and strategies. For Naija, di focus dey on building strong squad for future competitions while managing injury concerns like Bassey own. Di matches go show how far di team don come under Coach Chelle leadership.
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