NIGERIA Rugby team, the Black Stallions, will on Wednesday, kick start their campaign against Cote d' Ivoire at the 2019 West African Tri-nations Championship Series holding at the Nduom Sports Stadium in Elimina, Ghana.
Sportsbiz247.blogspot.com reports that the Bronson Weir tutored side will in their second game on Saturday, 3rd of August, face host Ghana, who lost 22 – 12 to Côte d’ Ivoire in their opening game on Sunday.
The Nigeria’s 24-man squad, which arrived Ghana on Sunday night is made up of 22 home-based players and two foreign base.
With seven players making their debut at this year West Africa series, the national team coach believes the team has all it takes to be victorious at this year’s tournament.
Captain of the Black Stallions, Azeez Ladipo could not make the list due to personal issues, while Chirstian Ogar was out due to illness and Felix Owolabi Salami was ruled out due to injury sustained in training.
Speaking at the team's hotel before their departure, Technical Director of the Nigeria Rugby Football Federation, Abubakar Yaro disclosed that the team is ready to take the region by storm.
“The boys have been training really hard and l want to tell you that we’re ready to give Cote d'Ivoire and Ghana a good run and improve upon our rankings. We have brought in Godwin Otoro from his base in Italy and debutant Ricky Ezenwa from South Africa to join the squad,“Abubakar said.
Furthermore, Team coach Bronson Weir who released the final 24-man team's list on Saturday called on corporate organisations to support the development of the sport in the country, adding that Nigeria has the potentials to be world beaters in the sport.
'We have carefully selected the squad and we are excited to see what this team can produce. The team is predominantly home based players and this competition gives them a big chance to prove that they are good enough to make the world cup qualifiers squad to play Madagascar on December 1 in Antananarivo,” says the South African.
MANAGEMENT
Bronson WEIR (Head Coach), Abubakar Yaro (Technical Director), Isaac AMADI (Strenght & Conditioning), Gbenga Hammed Adeniran (Manager)
FOWARDS
Adeshina ABDULJELILI, Nwagbara Ricky, Sunday BASSEY, Abrakson PETER, Suraj Umar IBRAHIM, John KURAH, Isaac SANI, David OYEKANMI, Samuel EKPO, Onome RICHARD, Olatunde SULAIMON, Godwin DINA OTORO, John ETIM
BACKS
Monday OMOROGIEVA, Hassan MUHAMMED, Onoru-Oyia JATTO, Abdulmalik ATOMULAKU, Ezekiel TOM, Alfred OCHE, Nuhu IBRAHIM, Joshua ETIM, Jeremiah PETER, Daniel JOHN
Fixtures
Wed Jul 21 Nigeria vs Cote d'Ivoire
Sat Aug 3rd Ghana vs Nigeria
Pictures: Nigeria Rugby
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