AFCON Qualifier: Minister, Keshi Inspect Abuja Stadium

The Minister of Sports, Tammy Danagogo, on
Tuesday in Abuja, inspected the National
Stadium, Abuja, ahead of the Oct. 15 return-
leg Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier
between Nigeria and Sudan.
The minister was accompanied by Stephen
Keshi, the Super Eagles Interim Coach and
Ibrahim Shehu, the ministry’s Director of
Stadia and Facilities.
Danagogo, who was elated with the current
state of the stadium pitch, nodded his head
in satisfaction to the explanations made by
the Director.
The minister, who refused to comment on the
inspection, also inspected the dressing rooms
for home and visiting teams.
Stephen Keshi said that the inspection was
an indication that the Eagles might play their
remaining home matches in Abuja due to the
poor condition of the UJ Eusene stadium,
Calabar.
“There is the possibility of the Eagles playing
their remaining AFCON qualifying matches
here; that’s what we are discussing with the
minister in case it doesn’t work out in
Calabar.
“Although we will love to play in Calabar, but
right now, the pitch has a little problem, so if
it’s not going down well there, then we can
move down to Abuja and play.
“What I am seeing now at the Abuja stadium
is a lot better than what we saw the last
time we played here.
“Then, it was so sandy and not very good for
players but what I am seeing now is
encouraging for players to play on,’’ Keshi
said.
The Super Eagles handler further said that
the list of invited players for the first leg
AFCON 2015 qualifier against Sudan in
Omdurman on Oct. 11 would be submitted to
the NFA latest on Thursday.
Keshi said he was optimistic that Nigeria
would qualify for the AFCON 2015 to be
hosted by Morocco between Jan. 17 and
Feb. 8.
“I understand how Nigerians feel after we
lost to Congo in Calabar and the draw in
South Africa but we can’t give up.
“We have four matches to play and we just
have to keep doing our best till the end of
the remaining matches.
“You can’t write your team off; if truely you
are supporting your team, you only need to
believe that the team will qualify.
“The players want to hear that Nigerians still
believe in them in spite of the loss to Congo;
not abusing them or cursing their parents.
“It takes building the confidence of the
players for us to qualify,’’ Keshi added.
NAN recalls that the National Stadium,
Abuja, has not been put to use since the
pitch was re-grassed in 2013 by contractors
Julius Berger.
NAN reports that Nigeria will play Sudan in a
two-legged encounter in the AFCON 2015
qualifier before taking on South Africa and
Congo.
Nigeria will first play Sudan in Omdurman on
Oct. 11 before the return leg on Oct. 15 in
Abuja. [NAN]