Austin Ejide Making Remarkable Progress In Fitness Race

Hapoel Be'er Sheva numero uno Austin Ejide is making remarkable progress in his bid to regain fitness after he suffered a muscle injury against Cape Verde in a tune - up game last Wednesday.

Ejide, who is expected to act as back - up to Vincent Enyeama in South Africa, was involved in training with Eagles goalkeeper trainer Ike Shorunmu and the physiotherapist on Monday. Before then, specifically on Sunday, he had been given the green-light by the medics to embark on swimming exercises.

If Ejide's rehabilitation goes according to plan, he would be fit just in time for Nigeria's first game at the African Cup of Nations against West African rivals Burkina Faso on January 21.

Nigeria will play her final warm - up game on Tuesday, 15:30 hours local time against Portuguese second division side Farense at the team's base in Faro, Portugal.

Note that the squad is expected to arrive Johannesburg on Thursday at around 11:00 hours.