Reuben, Idris out as Eagles begin training for Liberia

.And Liberia FA postpones camping till Wednesday

Super Eagles on Monday began full preparations for the second leg of the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against the Lone Star of Liberia with a training session at the training pitch of the Abuja National Stadium.

The team that comprised of only locally based players led by Warri Wolves goalkeeper, Chigozie Agbim were taken through training routines by Coach Stephen Keshi and his assistants.

Spokesman for the team, Ben Alaiya admitted that as at Monday morning, not all the players were in camp even though Sunday that was given as deadline. He reiterated that the resumption date for the foreign-based players remains Monday, October 8.

"As expected all the players invited save for the Sunshine Stars duo of Izu Azuka and Solomon Kwambe, beat the Sunday evening deadline and were part of the training session at the training pitch of the Abuja National Stadium,"Alaiya said in a press statement.

Alaiya also revealed that the duo of Gabriel Reuben and his Kano Pillars teammate, Papa Idris have not recovered well enough to be part of the team that will confront Liberia on October 13. Reuben suffered a groin injury during the finals of the Federations Cup in Lagos, while Idris has been battling a nagging knee injury, which has slowed down the usually racy central defender.

The two have since left camp and are to be replaced by Heartland’s Kalu Orji and Stanley Okoronkwo of Sharks FC of Port Harcourt.

“It was a painful decision to let the two players go, but we have to look at the future of the players and the fact that we will need the two of them at the South Africa 2013 Nations Cup, that is why we have said we should give them more time to go and get themselves healed. After the game against Liberia, they should be back in the team,” head coach Stephen Keshi explained.

The team is expected to depart for Calabra, Cross River State sometime next week ahead of the match. A total of 23 homebased players were invited by Coach Keshi for camping.

Meanwhile, Super Eagles opponents, Lone Star did not have it so good. The team's camp expected to open on Sunday at the Red Bull Academy in Ghana has now been postponed to Wednesday, October 3.

Both coach of the team Kaetu Smith and its spokesperson, Henry Boyd Flomo confirmed this over the weekend. The 24-man delegation comprised of about 12 local and four foreign based (Indonesia) players and eight technical and support staff will now leave for Ghana on Wednesday.

Newsblitzz gathered that no actual reason was given by the LFA for the postponement, but sources in Monrovia claim an impeccable source close to the LFA said the postponement was a “nominal delay” by the Association and the Lone Star Mobilization Committee to conclude plans before Sunday.

Also, the camping schedule has now been reduced to 7 days as against the initial 11-day programme planned by Coach Smith and the LFA.