OSHIOMHOLE AWAITS EAGLES ANNIVERSARY GIFT

Edo state Comrade Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, is relishing Saturday's International friendly between Nigeria and Botswana, which also falls on the day he was inaugurated as Governor of the state.

Speaking through a close aide of his, Oshiomhole, said he was proud to be part of the people that will not only rediscover the lost glory of Nigerian football but also the return home to one of Nigeria's original football cities; Benin City.

There are already elaborate plans for the governor's  swearing in anniversary, but the sports loving Edo Governor, whose state came third at the last National Sports Festival, has already made a firm promise that he would be at the stadium to cheer the Eagles to victory against Botswana on Saturday.

Similarly, newly appointed Super Eagles Head Coach, Steve Keshi is relishing his return to Benin City, where he once held sway as the skipper of the first Nigerian clubside to win the then elusive West African Football Union, WAFU Cup, with New Nigeria Bank.

'It's a delightful homecoming for me, with all the nostalgia that Benin City holds for some of us. I could not have asked for a better place to start my career as the national team coach of Nigeria'.

Meanwhile, Edo State Football Association, has said it was working closely with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), to ensure a hitch-free encounter on Saturday. FA Vice Chairman, Frank Ilaboya, who spoke on behalf of the Chairman, Chief Abel Ehigie, said all committees of the FA have swung into action to ensure that there are no issues during Saturday's friendly.

'We're quite aware that this is not the U23 side but the real national team and we'll prove once again that we have the capacity and ability to play host to the big games', he said.