World Cup: Echejile's Replacement Uzoenyi Arrives Brazil

Enugu Rangers winger Ejike Uzoenyi, called up to replace
Elderson Echiejile at 2014 FIFA World Cup, joined his
teammates yesterday evening.

Tuesday reports raised concerns over Uzoenyi's participation in
the Mundial as Enugu Rangers leadership claimed they had not
received any official letter either from FIFA or the Nigeria
Football Federation (NFF) .
Goal.com received the official confirmation of the players
participation in the tournament and quoted the Super Eagles
spokesman Ben Alaiya:
"Uzoenyi who was named by Keshi as replacement arrived Brazil
by 4pm local time from Nigeria."
It would be recalled that when Uzoenyi was dropped from the
final 23-man squad , many were surprised because the
footballer had been voted as the Most Valuable Player of the
2014 African Cup of Nations (AFCON), so as were the fans
shocked not to see Sunday Mba on the list.
Meanwhile the Super Eagles coach Stephen Keshi debunked the
rumours circulating in some media sources that he had insisted
on keeping the injured Echejile in camp.
He said:
"We have spoken to the medical team and the NFF and we have
agreed, so I was a bit shocked when I got a call from some of
my friends back home that I insisted on an injured player. It's
a fallacy because I never spoke to anyone about Echejile."
The tournament kicks off today, June 12. Nigeria is to play its
first game against Iran on June 16, then the Eagles will face
Bosnia-Herzegovina (June 21) and finally the strongest
opponent in the Group Argentina (June 25).