By Kazeem Tijani:
Complete Sports has been reliably informed that the up-coming 2019 AFCON qualifying match between the Super Eagles of Nigeria and the Group E leaders, Libya may now hold at the Akwa Ibom International Stadium Uyo.
The Nigeria Football Federation were as at press time contemplating shifting the match from the Ahmadu Bello Stadium, Kaduna which was ealier confirmed for the tie.
Super Eagles Media Officer, Toyin Ibitoye who confirmed this development however informs that this decision still awaits an official confirmation within the next few days.
“Yes the match would now hold at the Uyo Stadium as the Kaduna Stadium has not been certified ready for the tie,” Informs Ibitoye.
“But the Federation is expected to issue an official statement on this in the coming days,” noted Ibitoye.
The NFF last month announced Kaduna as the venue for the qualifier following an inspection by Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr. At the time, the playing field seemed in near perfect condition.
However, a second inspection last week showed a deterioration in the condition of the pitch.
With the game less than three weeks away, the NFF made the decision to
move the game to Uyo, where the Super Eagles have played the majority of their qualifiers.
Sources told KweséESPN that an NFF delegation visited the Uyo Stadium last week and found the pitch, which had also suffered tear-up in the wake of a political rally, in restored condition.
Verbal approval has also been received from the Akwa Ibom State government, owners of the stadium. The NFF has written to the Confederation of African Football and to the Libyan football federation intimating them of the change.