The Super Eagles arrived in Calabar, the Cross River State capital, on Tuesday afternoon via an Arik Air flight after a 55 minute flight from Abuja.

The team led by coach Stephen Keshi touched down at the Margaret Ekpo International Airport at about 12:40pm and were received as usual with dancing and singing by a cultural troupe and some women footballers. At the head of the reception party was the State Sports Commissioner, Patrick Ugbe, Special Adviser on Security to the governor, Rekpene Bassey, and NFF Head, Technical, Dr Emmanuel Ikpeme.

Speaking at the airport reception, Ugbe said Governor Imoke wishes the team another splendid stay in Calabar, and he will again personally lead football supporters to cheer the Eagles to victory on Saturday. “The Governor is presently out of the country, but you have his total and unflinching support and he has said he will personally be here to cheer the team on Saturday,” he said.

Like it happened two weeks ago, the team was led to their Transcorp Metropolitan Hotel abode with singing and drumming, before they had lunch at the hotel at about 2pm.

Thereafter the team headed for the Abraham Ordia Stadium in the University of Calabar, where they had their first workout for the game against the Wasps of Rwanda. The team will move to the UJ Esuene Stadium from Wednesday morning, for the final phase of its training for the Nations Cup qualifier on Saturday.