Nigeria opens camp ahead of soccer friendlies with Mali, Luxembourg

Nigeria Football Federation on Wednesday said it has opened the training camp for the country's national team in France ahead of two international friendlies to be played in Europe against Mali and Luxembourg.

The federation said the national team's camp was declared open on Wednesday for all players to begin adequate training under coach Salisu Yusuf, who is working on interim basis.

Nigeria, three-time African champions, will face Mali in France on May 27 before flying to Luxembourg to take on that country's national team on June 1.

Of the original 26 players that were listed by Coach Yusuf for the games, the Nigeria FA said it has released captain John Mikel Obi and his assistant, Ahmed Musa to participate in a testimonial match organized for former Nigerian captain Joseph Yobo in Port Harcourt, capital city of River State, on Friday.

Defender Chidozie Awaziem is a big doubt and forwards Aaron Samuel and Victor Moses are out, the former as a result of injury, the FA said.

Coach Yusuf said although the team will feature some regular players, he has made arrangement for a relatively young squad to be active in the friendly matches so as to give the players hope of playing in the national team.

"We are determined to give our best in this national assignments," he added. Endit