Sport: Ameobi fit, healthy for Mandela – Keshi

Super Eagles Head Coach, Stephen Okechukwu Keshi, has said that Newcastle striker, Shola Ameobi is healthy and fit for next month’s Mandela Challenge in South Africa, despite media reports to the contrary.


Keshi who put a call to the experienced attacker to find out the true situation of things when the reports broke out on Sunday, was told by Ameobi that he had only a knock on the arm and he would be ready for the friendly against Bafana Bafana.

“I have spoken to Shola and the guy is fit and healthy and will be available for the Mandela Challenge. He told me so himself, so any other news to the contrary I don’t believe”.

The Eagles resumed their preparations for the second leg tie against Cote D’ Ivoire in Abuja on Monday evening with the coaching crew concentrating on shooting and accuracy in front of goal.

In the course of the session, top striker Gambo Mohammed and Elkanemi’s Haruna Babalo both had knocks and were asked to sit out half of the session so as to quickly recover for Tuesday’s test game against TEAP FC of Abuja.

The medical crew has already said there is nothing to worry about but precautions must be taken not to aggravate any knock on any player as the d-day draws near for the crucial return leg against the Elephants of Cote ‘Ivoire in Abidjan.