MIKEL AND FIVE OTHERS TO JOIN EAGLES CAMP IN CALABAR

Chelsea star John Mikel Obi is expected to join up with the Super Eagles training camp in Calabar today as he has already arrived the country, officials announced last night.

Celtic defender, Efe Ambrose, and CSKA Moscow forward, Ahmed Musa, are also expected in Calabar Tuesday.

First choice goal keeper, Vincent Enyeama has been excused from the qualifiers against DR Congo and South Africa based on pressing family reasons. Head Coach, Stephen Keshi who is already with the team in Calabar confirmed Enyeama’s absence.

Team Secretary, Dayo Enebi, who confirmed the arrival of the players, noted that Emmanuel Emenike and Elderson Echiejile are also scheduled to come in today as well.

Israel-based Nosa Igiebor and Turkish Super Liga defender Godfrey Oboabona were some of the early arrivals in the Calabar camp as Eagles began preparations for a 2015 AFCON qualifier this weekend.

Middlesbrough defender Kenneth Omeruo and Azeez Ramon from La Liga side Almeria also hit the Eagles camp on Monday as the early arrivals swelled to nine.

The other early birds are Uche Nwofor and Juwon Oshaniwa.

The five home-based players called up, namely Chigozie Agbim, Gbolahan Salami, Azubike Egwuekwe, Ighodaro Osagona and Kunle Odunlami are already in camp.

The Super Eagles take on Congo on Saturday in a Nations Cup qualifier in Calabar and four days later they will be away to South Africa in Cape Town in continuation of the qualifying tournament for Morocco 2015.

Meanwhile, Seattle Sounders striker, Obafemi Martins, has delivered a veiled statement saying he is ready pull on the Nigeria shirt "if I get picked."
The former Inter Milan man believes he has been shut out of the Nigerian squad for sometime because "every coach has his favourites."
However, the 29-year-old is happy with his current run in the MLS with Seattle Sounders despite not being considered by the African champions for this month's 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches against Congo and South Africa.

"I'm here and I'm Nigerian, so we'll see if I get picked. I have no control over it. Every coach has his favourites. All I can say is that I'm playing good football in Seattle and I'm happy doing it. If I'm in the Nigeria team, great, and if I'm not, I wish them all the best. I always want Nigeria to do well," Martins told Fifa.com monday.

In spite of being out-of-favour with Nigeria selectors at the moment, Martins believes his career has had "so many sweet moments" and "a lot of high-points."
But most of those sweet moments and high-points have been at club level.

Martins represented Nigeria at the 2010 FIFA World Cup and has played for AC Reggiana, Inter Milan, Newcastle United, VfL Wolfsburg, Rubin Kazan, Birmingham and Levante before moving to the MLS to team up with Seattle Sounders.