Abuja- The Nigeria Football Association (NFA) on Thursday confirmed the withdrawal of South Africa’s under-17 male team from their friendly match with the Golden Eaglets scheduled for Kaduna on Saturday.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the encounter was scheduled for the Ahmadu Bello Stadium, but the South Africa Football Federation (SAFA) later expressed security concerns.
Mohammed Sanusi, NFA’s Director of Competitions, had told NAN on Wednesday that the match was certain for Kaduna.
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However, Seyi Akinwunmi, NFA’s First Vice-Chairman, told newsmen on Thursday in Abuja that the South African team had some logistic problems which might have prevented them from honouring the encounter.
“I was told this (Thursday) morning that they were unable to make it. But I don’t have details yet.
“The NFA Secretary-General is not around, and his deputy (Deputy Secretary-General) is not around too, while Sanusi is away from Abuja.
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“What I hear is that they are unable to make it.
`Sanusi said `he told them that they should still try and come, and that he spoke with them last (Wednesday) night and they were saying maybe they would still be able to make it.
“`But I think they have some problems, and I don’t know what they are,’’ Akinwunmi said.
NAN reports that the friendly is part of both teams’ preparations for the 11th African Under-17 Championship scheduled to take place in Niger Republic from Feb. 15 to March 1.(NAN)