Eagles leave for Tanzania on Thursday

The Super Eagles are expected to travel to Tanzania on Thursday ahead of Saturday’s Gabon 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match against the Taifa Stars in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

Meanwhile, the Eagles have been training behind closed doors in Abuja ahead of the game against Tanzania.

Spokesman for the team Toyin Ibitoye said the 2013 African champions’ training would be open to the public for only 15 minutes on Wednesday.

According to thenff.com, Nigeria coach Sunday Oliseh will lead 23 players to the East African country as the Eagles seek to win their second game in the qualifiers. Nigeria opened their Gabon 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign with a 2-0 defeat of Chad in Kaduna on June 13. Former Nigeria captain Stephen Keshi, who guided the Eagles to victory in the Kaduna encounter, was sacked by the Nigeria Football Federation.

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Nigeria and Tanzania have not met at senior level since 1980, but they have been clashing at junior level in recent years.

The Taifa Stars held the Eagles to a 1-1 draw in the first leg of their 1982 World Cup qualifying fixture in Lagos in December 1980. But two first half goals by John Chidozie and Christian Nwokocha in Dar es Salaam two weeks later sent Tanzania packing from the race.

Meanwhile, the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match between African champions Cote d’Ivoire and the Leone Stars of Sierra Leone will now take place at the Adokiye Amiesiamaka Stadium in Port Harcourt on Sunday, the NFF stated on Tuesday.

The match was billed for the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos, but the Nigeria Football Federation said that they received a letter from the Sierra Leone Football Association, which necessitated a change in venue.

“We received a letter from the SLFA saying they are aware of serious concerns by the Ivorien Football Federation about their players playing on artificial turf, which is the texture of the Teslim Balogun Stadium.

“The NFF had concluded arrangements to have the match in Lagos, but as a result of the letter, we had to look elsewhere. We appreciate the Lagos State Government for showing interest in hosting the match,” NFF General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi, said.

The NFF agreed to host the match after Sierra Leone were banned from hosting international matches because of the deadly Ebola scourge ravaging the country.