Nasarawa United’s Opponents Storm Abuja On Friday

The Nigeria Football Federation has now received information from the Senegalese Football Federation to the effect that the delegation of AS Academie Generation Foot to a CAF Confederation Cup match in Abuja will arrive on Friday morning.

Generation Foot, a lower division team in Senegal that upset the formbook to win the country’s FA Cup, clash with Nigeria’s CAF Confederation Cup flagbeares Nasarawa United at the National Stadium, Abuja in a first round, first leg match.

The Senegalese Football Federation also confirmed that Generation Foot have elected the option of taking care of themselves while in Nigeria, with the implication that the Solid Miners will also take care of their stay in Dakar in the return leg.

While Generation Foot are campaigning on the continent for the first time, Nasarawa United played in the CAF Confederation Cup in 2007 after crashing out of the more lucrative CAF Champions League.

On Thursday, Nasarawa United FC chairman, Barr. Isaac Danladi, told thenff.com that his boys are in great shape to earn a heartwarming win that will stand them in good stead in the return leg.

“We are not taking this campaign with levity. The Government of Nasarawa State is very keen on the team doing the nation proud, so nothing is being left to chance.

“Our commitment is to take it one match at a time. We will fight for a handsome result in Abuja on Sunday and then go and play our hearts out in Senegal.”

The winner of the fixture between Nasarawa United and Generation Foot will proceed to the second round, to battle it out with Club Sportif Constantinois of Algeria.

On Sunday, Nasarawa United coach Kabiru Suleiman Dogo will be able to call on some of the most impressive actors in Nigeria’s domestic football.

TIMOTHY SIMON OF NASARAWA AND HAMMED JIMOH OF KWARA UTD (3) photo credit LMC Media

Esosa Igbinoba, who was among the top scorers of the penultimate season, is available alongside CHAN Eagles defender Samson Gbadebo, Abdulrahaman Bashir, Philip Azango, CHAN Eagles midfielder Yaro Bature, Thomas Zenke and Philip Auta.

On Friday, Nigerian champions Enyimba FC will take on Vipers of Uganda in Kampala in their CAF Champions League first round, first leg match, while Akwa United are away to Club Mokanda of Congo in the CAF Confederation Cup.

The other Nigerian team in the CAF Champions League contest, Warri Wolves, will host Praia Cruz from Sao Tome and Principe at the Warri Township Stadium on Sunday.

CAF Cup: Nasarawa United in Abuja for Generation Foot

Players and officials of Nigeria’s flagbearers in this year’s CAF Confederation Cup, Nasarawa United, have arrived in Abuja with a determination not to take prisoners in Sunday’s first round, first leg clash against AS Academie Generation Foot of Senegal.

Although the opponents are yet to communicate their date of arrival to the Nigeria Football Federation, Nasarawa United FC chairman, Barr. Isaac Danladi told thenff.com on Tuesday that his players are focusing on Sunday’s game and not when the opposition will jet into town.

TIMOTHY SIMON OF NASARAWA (1) photo credit LMC Media

“Our preparations are geared towards achieving a handsome win, in order to make the second leg an easier session for us. As I told you some weeks ago, we have experienced continental football before when we played in the CAF Champions League some years ago. It is not an entirely strange territory.

“Playing at home first, or playing at the National Stadium, Abuja is no disadvantage. Rather, we see everything as an opportunity to confirm how much progress Nasarawa United has made over the years.”

The Solid Miners opted to play at the National Stadium, Abuja as their home ground in Lafia is presently undergoing renovation. They trained in Abuja on Tuesday and are staying at the Peace Haven Hotel, Wuye.

Ace forward Esosa Igbinoba, Thomas Zenke, Abdulrahman Bashir and the two Philips – Auta and Azango – are in the 22 –man delegation that stormed the Federal Capital Territory on Tuesday.

Also this weekend, Nigeria’s other flagbearer in the CAF Confederation Cup, Super 4 champions Akwa United will travel to Congo to play Club Mokanda. In the CAF Champions League, Warri Wolves will host Praia Cruz from Sao Tome and Principe while two –time champions Enyimba FC fly to Uganda to play Vipers FC.