Bronze medalists at the 2014 African Championship of Nations (CHAN) Nigeria will camp in South Africa (Pretoria) and not Tanzania ahead of the 2016 finals to be held by Rwanda from January 17-Febuary 7.
Super Eagles’ head coach Sunday Oliseh had wanted his side to put their base in Tanzania as a way of acclimatizing to the East African weather.
But according to www.sunnewsonline.com, Nigeria Football Federation officials said the change was necessitated because Tanzania does not have a standard artificial pitch, which will be what will be used in Rwanda.
Nigeria are pooled in Group C alongside Tunisia, Niger and Guinea and will have their matches played at the Artificial turf of Nyamirambo Stadium
On Tuesday, Oliseh summoned a squad of 26 players to start preparations on Monday December 14, before they depart to South Africa.
This will be Nigeria’s second appearance at the finals, Nigeria will hope to go a step further than the seminal they achieved at the third edition in South Africa.
CHAN is a tournament designed exclusively for footballers playing in their domestic leagues.
The first edition was held in 2009 in Cote d’Ivoire with DR Congo emerging as champions.
The second edition held in 2011 in Sudan had Tunisia as winners whilst Libya won the third edition in 2014 in South Africa.
Group A will be based at the Amahoro Stadium in Kigali, Group B in Butare, Group C at the Nyamirambo Stadium, also in Kigali with Gisenyi hosting Group D.
Nigeria’s 26 man squad summoned for Chan preparations
Goalkeepers: Ikechukwu Ezenwa (Sunshine Stars); Olufemi Thomas (Enyimba FC); David Obiazor (Heartland FC); Okemute Odah (Warri Wolves)
Defenders: Kalu Orji (Enugu Rangers); Austin Oboroakpo (Warri Wolves); Jamiu Alimi (Shooting Stars); Mathew Etim (Enugu Rangers); Stephen Eze (Sunshine Stars); Chima Akas (Sharks FC); Chris Madaki (Giwa FC)
Midfielders: Ifeanyi Mathew (El-Kanemi Warriors); Paul Onobi (Sunshine Stars); Usman Mohammed (FC Taraba); Bature Yaro (Nasarawa United); Osas Okoro (Enugu Rangers); Bartholomew Ibenegbu (Warri Wolves); Julius Ubido (Heartland FC); Ibrahim Salawa Attah (Shooting Stars); Christian Madu (Enugu Rangers)
Forwards: Ezekiel Bassey (Enyimba FC); Gbolahan Salami (Warri Wolves); Tunde Adeniji (Sunshine Stars); Bright Onyedikachi (FC IfeanyiUbah); Chisom Chikatara (Abia Warriors); Prince Aggrey (Sunshine Stars)
CHAN 2016 Groups:
Group A – Rwanda, Gabon, Morocco, Cote d’Ivoire
Group B – DR Congo, Angola, Cameroon, Ethiopia
Group C – Tunisia, Nigeria Niger, Guinea
Group D – Zimbabwe, Mali, Uganda, Zambia
