We chose Uyo Stadium for Eagles’ game purely on merit, says NFF

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Wednesday insisted that its choice of the newly constructed Uyo International Stadium as venue for the November 19 Nations Cup qualifier between the Super Eagles and South Africa was based purely on football issues rather than political considerations, as is being claimed in some quarters.

NFF General Secretary, Musa Amadu, told The Guardian in Abuja Wednesday that the arena, which would be declared open on November 6, is the second best in the country outside the Abuja National Stadium, stressing that with its new green natural grass as well as the modern facilities, the Super Eagles’ players would enjoy the pitch and play the type of football that would guarantee them victory over the South Africans.

The NFF scribe, who expressed the federation’s confidence that the stadium would be approved by CAF after its inspection team’s visit next week, also disclosed that the NFF had already carried out its own inspection of the stadium last week and certified it fit to host the match.

“Let me say here that the inspection of the Ibom International Stadium was carried out by the NFF team on Thursday and Friday last week and the report has already been submitted to us. Honestly, beside the national stadium in Abuja, there is no other stadium in this country that could beat the Ibom international stadium. It has a new green grass with the capacity to accommodate 30,000 spectators. 

 “With its natural grass and all the facilities, it is the best we can talk of now in the country.

 “Also, there is no reason why we cannot play there. For example, countries like South Africa have been playing their AFCON qualifying home matches at different venues like Cape Town and Pretoria. If the stadium is approved by CAF there is no reason why we should not play there because we are confident that there will be a good turn out and our players will enjoy the support of Uyo fans.”

   He also disclosed that the NFF had written the football federations of Tunisia, Algeria, Egypt and Ghana for an international friendly match with the home-based Super Eagles to commemorate the opening of the stadium on November 6, adding that it was still expecting the countries’ replies.