AFCON 2017 qualifiers: Siasia invites 42 players for Egypt

Coach Samson Siasia has invited 22 home –based professionals and 20 overseas –based players for Nigeria’s 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying double-take against the Pharaohs of Egypt this month.

Siasia, who was named last week as Super Eagles’ Head Coach, passionately appealed to all Nigerians, including the sporting media, to rally round the team and show belief as the Eagles host the Egyptians in Kaduna on Friday, March 25 and play away in Alexandria on Tuesday, March 29.

The 22 home –boys are expected to hit camp at the Bolton White Apartments, Abuja on Sunday, March 6 before the overseas –based boys arrive as from Sunday, March 20.

Lionel Messi in Gabon, chauffeur driven by the country's president

Four-time world player of the year, Lionel Messi was hosted in Gabon on Saturday July 18th by the country's President, Ali Bongo, for the brick laying of their new 22,000 seat stadium. He was  chauffeur driven by the president himself around the streets of Libreville.

Messi officially started the building process at the Port-Gentil stadium, which will host Africa Cup of Nations matches in 2017. He came dressed in a casual pair of denim shorts and t-shirt

"When I was in Barcelona a few years ago, I met Messi who had told me that he would come to visit me in Libreville" said the Gabon president. "It's a promise he made me. He is a man of honour who just kept his word.".

There are reports that he was paid 3.5m Euros by Ali Bongo to make the appearance and it's causing serious wahala in the country. Gabonese are angry about the obscene amount and say their president belittled himself by driving Messi around. He was there for just one day. 

More photos after the cut..