VENUE FOR AFCON DUEL WITH LIBYA UNDECIDED

The venue for Nigeria’s Matchday 3 encounter with Libya is not yet decided. In the communiqué released after the Nigeria Football Federation’s board meeting on Monday, it was stated that the Technical and Development Committee of the NFF was working in harmony with the Strategy Committee to come up with a definite venue for the match which comes up on October 10.

According to the media statement, a sub-committee was to hold meetings with “relevant stakeholders in possible host cities and revert back with an agreed venue within the next 10 days”.

Last week, the Super Eagles coach, Gernot Rohr was in Kaduna to inspect the Ahmadu Bello Stadium ostensibly for consideration for the match.

The Nigerian national team has been without a definite home ground since both National Stadium in Abuja and Lagos degenerated into deplorable condition.

Matches haven been alternating among the stadiums in Kaduna, Uyo and Port Harcourt.

Addressing the media in Lagos last Friday, the Super Eagles’ coach said he would have loved to hold the Super Eagles in the nation’s capital as is customary with most national teams, but the pitch of the Abuja stadium is nothing to write home.

He suggested that grass could be imported and with grader, the pitch can be ready in two weeks.

It however appears the political will to embark on renovation of the arena which hosted the 2003 All Africa Games is lacking.

Far worse is the National Stadium, Lagos which, with its enthusiastic and motivating crowd for the hosts, used to be a slaughter slab for visiting teams.