Akombo hits camp for US President's Celebration Soccer I.V Tournament

by George Akpayen, of Super sports

 

One of the top scorers in the Nigeria Premier League (NPL), Ukeyima Akombo, appears to have earned a late call up to the camp of Nigeria's B team in Abuja ahead of the United States president’s celebration soccer invitational tournament in the USA.

Following the inability of Enugu Rangers' striker, Fred Okwara, to honour the invitation of the Nigerian selectors due to an injury, Akombo was handed the chance of joining the B team at its Bolton White Apartments in Abuja. 

Apart from Akombo, 26 players from different clubs in the Nigeria Premier League (NPL) are understood to have trained on Wednesday morning under the supervision of head coach, Samson Siasia, at the the artificial turf of the Fifa technical Centre in Abuja. 

However, three players - John Agbawu, Bartholomew Akakem and Uche Kalu - are still expected by Siasia and his backroom staff. 

Premier League clubs in Nigeria in the past days refused to release their players to the national teams due to the games still ongoing this season. 

Shooting Stars' technical director and general manager, Mutiu Adepoju, told SuperSport.com that the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) should have sent out invitations to the players via their clubs rather than rely on newspaper publication. 

Adepoju pointed that Shooting Stars did not receive any formal letter from the Nigerian FA calling up attacking winger, Gbolahan Salami, though the Premier League side released the player on Monday.

"I think the Nigeria FA should endeavour to send out invitations like they do to players abroad to avoid disagreements between them and clubs. 

Shooting Stars didn't get any letter from the NFF inviting our player. We only read about the invitation on the pages of the newspapers," said Adepoju.

Players in camp:

Bassey Akpan, Chigozie Agbim, Chinedu Agwu, Valentine Nwabili, Chibuzor Okonkwo, Abdulwasiu Sowemimo, Kenneth Omeruo, ThankGod Ike, Gege Soriola, Ikechukwu Ibenegbu, Julius Ubido, Rabiu Ali, ThankGod Amaefule, Daniel Mende, Cletus Itodo, Gbolahan Salami, Osas Okoro, Moses Ogaga, Ekigho Ehiosun, John Huan, Ejike Uzoenyi, Kabiru Waziri, Femi Balogun, Lazarus Chukwu, Stanley Okoronkwo, AbdulJelil Ajagun and Ukeyima Akombo.