Daily Independent Online.
*
Friday, July 02, 2004.
Aghahowa fit for Algeria
Striker Julius
Aghahowa will feature in Saturday's World Cup qualifier against Algeria having
recovered from a thigh injury.
"I'm fit for
the game against Algeria," said Aghahowa.
"It all
depends on the coach, if I will get a starting place but I am looking forward
to playing a part on Saturday," he said after Thursday’s training.
The Shaktar Donetsk
striker has not played for Nigeria since this year's African Nations Cup finals
in Tunisia and earlier pulled out of the squad, only to change his mind at the
request of Coach Christian Chukwu.
"Aghahowa
looks good for the game. He has shown tremendous zeal and determination to stay
fit.
"Ifeanyi
(Ekwueme) is another player that has shrugged off his injury scare," said
team doctor Mu'azu Abdulkadir.
Meanwhile,
Christian Chukwu is happy that he has the full catalogue of players ahead of
the crucial game against the Desert Foxes of Algeria.
"I have all
the invited players here, and this is a sign of good things to come on Saturday"
he said.
"We are happy
to see all the injured players in training today and that is a big boost for
us" he concluded.
However, Captain
Jay-Jay Okocha, who said he missed Nigeria's 1-0 defeat against Angola because
he wanted a rest after a long season, has been joined by Wilson Oruma, Obafemi
Martins, Yakubu Aiyegbeni, Bartholomew Ogbeche, Osaze Odemwingie and Mikeal
John Obi the newest addition to
the squad that lost in Luanda.
