Guardian

COACH Stephen Keshi doubts the availability of Chelsea midfielder, Mikel Obi, for the friendly international game against Mexico.

The Super Eagles face Mexico in Houston, Texas, on May 31 as preparation for their hectic schedule in June when they will play two World Cup qualifiers, as well as, feature in the FIFA Confederations Cup.

Mikel is in England to process an entry visa to Brazil in time for the Confederations Cup.

“I’m not sure he’s coming,” Keshi told MTNFootball.com from the Eagles training camp in Germany.

“Our agreement before with Chelsea was for them to drop off both Mikel and Victor Moses after their own game. But now he is pursuing a visa to Brazil.

“We’re also not sure about his condition, if he is fit or not. And so, Mikel might not be there with us.”

The Eagles have been seriously depleted by the withdrawal of several players because of injury, as well as, club engagements.

Victor Moses, Emmanuel Emenike, Kalu Uche and Gabriel Reuben have already been ruled out because of injury, while Ahmed Musa, Fegor Ogude and Efe Ambrose are involved in cup finals at their various European clubs.

The Eagles fly out of Frankfurt, Germany, to the US on Tuesday morning. But before then, they will face an Adidas XI in a test game in Germany.

Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) marketing director, Idris Adama, said Eagles’ kits sponsor, Adidas, has delivered 2013 boots and the FIFA Confederations Cup official match balls to the team.

“Adidas has confirmed to us that the Eagles are the first team in the world to get delivery of the new balls, which has been designed for the Confederations Cup in Brazil,” announced Adama.

“The team would equally be the first to test the 2013 Adidas ball when they take on Adidas Eleven on May 27 at the Adidas facility in Germany.”

Meanwhile, the number of players in the Super Eagles training camp in Germany has swelled to 17 following the arrival of more players to the Novina Hotel camp late on Wednesday.

The latest players to arrive at the camp are Germany-based striker, Joseph Akpala and Ukraine-based forward Babatunde Michael.

Also in is Portugal-based midfielder John Ogu, while defenders Kenneth Omeruo and Elderson Echiejile, as well as Italy-based Nnamdi Oduamadi, were expected in camp yesterday.