Match officials for Saturday’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifier between Nigeria and Libya are already in Lagos and billed to fly out to Uyo on Friday, footballlive.ng can report.
This much was revealed in a press release from the media department of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), which stated that the referee from DR Cong, Jean-Jacques Ndala Ngambo arrived alongside three compatriots.
The others are Olivier Safari Kabene (Assistant Referee 1), Nabina Blaise Sebutu (Assistant Referee 2) and Malala Kabanga Yannick (Reserve Referee) – all from the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Also expected in Uyo on Friday is the match commissioner, Andy Quame from Liberia, as well as the security officer from South Africa, Dan Van Vuuren and referee assessor from Mali, Koman Coulibaly.
It is a Matchday 3 encounter and another quick home-and-away fixture in the Africa Cup of Nations qualifying race and the opponents are Libya.
Nigeria hope to put their strongest foot in against Libya’s Mediterranean Knights in Saturday evening’s 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier at the Akwa Ibom Stadium in Uyo.
South Africa defeated Nigeria 2-0 in Uyo on the opening day of the 2019 AFCON qualifying series in June 2017, and it is a result that still rankles with the average Nigerian football fan.
Super Eagles coach, Gernot Rohr underscored the victory stance on Thursday and instructed his charges to dig deep into their reserves and replicate what they did against African champions Cameroon in a similar situation 11 months ago.
Back then, in a Matchday 3 fixture of the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying series at the same venue, visiting Indomitable Lions were understandably installed as favourites against the Super Eagles.
However, Nigeria went ahead to spank Cameroon 4-0 and led for 75 minutes in the return leg in Yaounde few days later before the Lions equalized from the penalty spot, and Rohr says the Eagles can do it again.
Rohr said: “It was good winning in Seychelles the way we did. We got the result we needed and it should serve as a good motivation to continue winning when we play Libya.
“We need the points now; we cannot pretend about that. If we pick the points in these two games, we will be very close to the AFCON ticket.
“I believe we have the players here to earn a decent result and then go and give their all in Libya for another credible outcome.”
