Super Eagles media officer, Toyin Ibitoye has parried any form of distraction for the team over the issue of a venue for the first leg of their Afirca Cup of Nations qualifier against Libya.
Although many Nigerian soccer fans are apprehensive that uncertainty over the choice of venue for the match on October 12 could cause distractions for the players, Ibitoye insists they are all fully focused on the task at hand.
Ibitoye stressed in a radio interview monitored by footballlive.ng on Wednesday morning that the Eagles are ready to take on Libya either in Kaduna or Uyo, as they would accept any venue Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) eventually settles for.
The team’s spokesman admitted that there is a strong possibility that the match may no longer hold at Ahmadu Bello Stadium, Kaduna, but said the team is also familiar with the next alternative that has been forwarded, being Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo.
However, Ibitoye refused to confirm the switch until an official NFF statement is issued on the matter.
The encounter, tohugh, will remain on Friday, October 12 at 5:30pm, with Congolese referee, Jean-Jacques Ndala Ngambo in charge of the Group E clash, while the second leg will hold in Tunisia on Monday, October 15.
ibitoye stressed: “We are fully aware of reports going round that the match may be shifted to Uyo, but we are not worried about the choice of venue.
“The players are on the same cards and are ready to play anywhere in Nigeria, because any venue in the country is home for the team.
“We played most of our recent matches in Uyo, except for a couple ofr so in Port Harcourt, which means we will be in familiar environment if the game holds at Godswill Akpabio Stadium.
“It was only that about two months ago, the stadium in Uyo was not in good condition for this type of match, while Ahmadu Bello Stadium in Kaduna appeared better placed.
“The latest we are hearing now, though, is that Ahmadu Bello Stadium is not as good as it was when our coach and officials visited the arena for checks. But, as I said earlier, the Super Eagles are ready to play anywhere in Nigeria.”
