Govt insists on Abuja stadium for Eagles

STRONGER indications have emerged that the Abuja National Stadium would play host to the Super Eagles World Cup and Nations Cup qualifiers next month.The poor condition of the pitch had cast doubt on the possibility of the encounters holding in Abuja, a development that has forced the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to pick the Ahmadu Bello Stadium, Kaduna as the alternative venue.However, recent spate of bomb blasts in Kaduna has forced the football governing body to embark on recent inspection of stadia like the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium, Ibadan and the U.J Esuene Stadium, Calabar.Latest information has, however, put big doubts on matches being played outside the Federal Capital Territory as it was gathered that pressures from the government has given Abuja the greenlight to stage the matches inspite of the poor state of the pitch."Top government officials have also made it clear that the game should not be moved outside the capital city of Abuja."The ministry do not want the game played outside Abuja and will do everything to work on the pitch,'' an official revealed.It was learnt that officials have also paid another visit to the Abuja National Stadium and a top official told MTNFootball.com the rainy season may help out in improving the pitch, which suffered from lack of maintenance as a result of no power at the facility.The executive committee of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) will meet next week to decide on the venue for the Eagles matches.
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