The Super Eagles will face a team from North Africa in a friendly game as part of activities to formally open the new Akwa Ibom Stadium in Uyo.
According to a statement by Toyin Ibitoye, the Super Eagles Media Officer, the match scheduled for Nov. 6 will see the Eagles featuring only players drawn from the domestic scene.
“The friendly match is to be bankrolled by the Akwa Ibom Government, and the identity of the North African team will be confirmed later this week,’’ it said.
The statement said team Head Coach Amodu Shuaibu was already planning to fully utilise the opportunity of the friendly international.
It said the match would be used to begin preparations for Nigeria’s 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers in November.
“Twenty-two players will be called up to the team’s training camp which opens in Uyo from Sunday, Nov. 2 because that Nov. 6 game will afford us a wonderful opportunity of seeing some of our best legs in the domestic league more closely,’’ the statement quoted Shuaibu as saying.
It added that Shuaibu also expressed that the camp would afford the team’s technical crew the opportunity of working with the players for about three days before the friendly.
“Some of those who show the quality we are looking for will then join the main squad for the qualifiers.
“We must seize every opportunity we have to get a strong squad ready for the challenges ahead and we really appreciate the Akwa Ibom Government.
“We should also praise the Nigeria Football Association (NFA) for putting this programme together,’’ he had said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the new 30,000 capacity Akwa Ibom Stadium in Uyo is being expected to host Nigeria’s final 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.
The qualifier, which is against the Bafana Bafana of South Africa, is scheduled for Nov. 19, 2014.(NAN)
