CAF Inspector Rates Akwa Ibom Stadium High

It is now official. The 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying cracker between the Super Eagles and the Bafana Bafana of South Africa will take place at the Akwa Ibom International Stadium, Uyo.

Vice President of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), Mr. Fred Crentsil, who was mandated by the Confederation of African Football to inspect the facility, has given the infrastructure very high marks.

“You guys have a wonderful facility here. It is one of the best I have seen anywhere around Africa and elsewhere. It is of the same standard and mould as Soccercity (the main stadium in Johannesburg that hosted the final match of the 2010 FIFA World Cup finals) with a lower capacity.

Akwa Ibom Stadium, photo internationaltradenes.com

“I am particularly amazed that there are provisions for the physically –challenged persons. Everything is taken care of here. I am hugely impressed,” Crentsil said in Uyo on Thursday.

The CAF official inspected the stadium as well as hotel facilities in the Akwa Ibom State capital, in company with the NFF’s Assistant Director of Competitions, Mr. Bola Oyeyode.

NFF President, Mr. Amaju Melvin Pinnick had, after inspecting the magnificent facility three weeks ago, announced that the venue would host the Super Eagles, Bafana Bafana clash.

NFF, GFA finalise two-leg friendly fixture for U-17 girls

The Nigeria Football Federation and the Ghana Football Association have finalised arrangements for a two-leg friendly fixture between the U-17 Women National Team of Nigeria, known as Flamingos, and their Ghanaian counterparts.

Ag. General Secretary of GFA, Emmanuel Gyimah formally requested for the fixture through a letter dated 23rd January, and the NFF responded positively through another letter the following day, signed by General Secretary, Barrister Musa Amadu.

Both teams, alongside Zambia, have qualified to represent the African continent at the 4th FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup taking place in Costa Rica between 15th March – 4th April, 2014.

“This is a very good thing and will certainly help the general preparation of our girls for the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup,” noted
Amadu.

The first leg of the international friendly fixture will take place at the National Stadium, Abuja on Sunday, 2nd February with the return
leg to be played at the Accra Sports Stadium on Sunday, 9th February.

It would be recalled that the Flamingos, currently on a tour of some States of Federation which has seen them play against top-rated Clubs, qualified for the 4th FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup finals without kicking a ball, following the withdrawal of South Sudan.

Amadu disclosed on Monday that the NFF has made arrangements for adequate preparation of the Flamingos to do the country proud at the showpiece in Costa Rica.

“The girls will return from their tour of the Federation to play the two-legged friendly fixture with Ghana, and then travel to Faro,
Portugal for a three-week, final training camp before flying to Costa Rica for the final competition.”

Bala Nikyu’s girls are expected to fly into Costa Rica on 12th March for the tournament kicking off on 15th March. Nigeria play Mexico,
China and Colombia in Group D of the tournament, with her first match against the Chinese on 16th March.