Nigeria's squad (back L-R) defender Kenneth Omeruo, defender Elderson Uwa Echiejile, goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi, defender Leon Balogun, defender William Troost-Ekong, midfielder John Obi Mikel, (L-R) midfielder Victor Moses, midfielder Ogenyi Onazi, forward Oghenekaro Etebo, forward Alex Iwobi and forward Kelechi Iheanacho pose for a group picture ahead of the 2018 FIFA World Cup African zone group B qualifying football match between Nigeria and Algeria at the Akwa Ibom State Stadium in Uyo on November 12, 2016. / AFP PHOTO / PIUS UTOMI EKPEI
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has moved the Super Eagles’ Russia 2018 World Cup qualifier against Cameroon scheduled for August from the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo to Port Harcourt, reports Owngoalnigeria.com.
Quoting sources from the NFF, the website said the football house was no longer comfortable with the spate of bad results in Uyo. Super Eagles have won just two games at the magnificent Godswill Akpabio Stadium and the recent loss against South Africa, it said, has convinced the federation that the ground is jinx.
But the NFF says it is moving the game to Port Harcourt based purely on logistics grounds. Transportation to the stadium factored as part of the reasons, as it takes 45 minutes to drive from the hotel of the Super Eagles to the stadium, while the none presence of vocal home support also played a role.
The choice of Port Harcourt is yet to be fully agreed as renovation works at the ground is yet to be completed, so the NFF has placed the Ahmadu Bello Stadium in Kaduna and the national stadium in Abuja on standby.
No comments: