Nigeria’s Football Squad Visits Suez Canal Ahead of AFCON 2019

Nigeria’s Football National team visited the Suez Canal on Friday. The visit comes a few days before Africa Cup of Nations. AFCON 2019 will kick off in Egypt on June 21.

Vice Admiral Mohab Mamish, chairman of the Suez Canal Authority, received Nigeria’s 23-man squad. And welcomed the visit.

Mamish wished them an interesting play in the African tournament.

"The tournament is fully backed and blessed by Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah El Sisi," he added.

The Suez Canal's chairman praised preparations of the Nations' Cup. "Availability of well-prepared training areas and luxury residence of the participating teams are good."

[caption id="attachment_56867" align="aligncenter" width="800"] Nigeria’s 23-man Squad Visits Suez Canal Ahead of AFCON 2019[/caption]

On his part, Nigeria’s coach Gernot Rohr said he and his team were happy to pay a visit to the Suez Canal and enjoyed watching world’s trade ships crossing the canal.

“I’m happy to visit the Suez Canal for the first time in my life. Besides, I believe this canal is amazing,” said Nigerian midfielder Wilfred Ndidi, playing for UK’s Leicester City Football Club.

Furthermore, Ndidi stressed the canal is something that all Africans, not only Egyptians, must be proud of.

Moreover, Nigeria’s football national team is deemed as one of the most powerful squads in Africa.

The squad played out a goalless draw against Zimbabwe in a friendly in Asaba on Saturday and will now fly out to the city of Ismailia for a final pre-tournament friendly against Senegal on Sunday.

[caption id="attachment_56868" align="aligncenter" width="924"] Nigeria’s 23-man Squad Visits Suez Canal[/caption]

An Easy Group

The three-time champions will play in Group B at the Nations Cup, alongside Guinea, Madagascar and Burundi.

Thus, Nigeria's opening match will be against Burundi on 22 June at the Alexandria Stadium, Alexandria.

The team embraces 21 professional members playing in European clubs; six of them are playing at the UK’s championship.

The 2019 African Cup of Nations opens with Egypt against Zimbabwe on the 21st of June. The final is on the 19th of July.

[caption id="attachment_56869" align="aligncenter" width="800"] Nigeria’s National Football Team's Coach Gernot Rohr Visits Suez Canal[/caption]

In Brief, here is the draw in full

First: the toughest group based on FIFA rankings (Group A) : Egypt, DR Congo, Uganda and Zimbabwe

Second: Group B: Nigeria, Guinea, Madagascar and Burundi

Third: Group C: Senegal, Algeria, Kenya and Tanzania

Fourth: Group D: Morocco, Ivory Coast, South Africa and Namibia

Fifth: Group E: Tunisia, Mali, Mauritania and Angola

Sixth: Finally, Group F: Cameroon, Ghana, Benin and Guinea-Bissau

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