Seychelles’ soccer national team, The Pirates have received a massive presidential boost to beat Nigeria’s Super Eagles in Saturday’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifier, as the match will be watched by the hosts’ number one citizen.
Heading into the 1:30pm kick-off (Nigeria time), Seychelles’ players have been informed that their president, Danny Faure and his deputy, Vincent Meriton will attend Saturday’s qualifier at Stade Lanite in the archipelago country’s capital, Victoria.
Seychelles Football Federation general secretary, Georges Bibi confirmed this during the pre-match meeting which took place at the country’s soccer body’s secretariat in Victoria on Friday evening.
He further disclosed that Seychelles’ leaders will be joined by the football federation’s president, Elvis Chetty and first vice-president of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Barrister Seyi Akinwunmi.
Also at the meeting, which was attended by the match officials from Mauritius, Tanzania, Uganda and Kenya, it was decided that Seychelles would don their traditional red top and shorts with white stripes, while the Eagles will turn out in green top over white shorts.
The match referee is Omweno Devis from Kenya, to be assisted by compatriot Cheruiyot Gilbert (assistant referee 1) and Ugandans Isorlko Mark (assistant referee 2) and Muhabi Alli (reserve referee).
Mustapha Chitbahal from Mauritius is the match commissioner while Leslie Leonard Liunda from Tanzania is the referee assessor.
Bibi also disclosed that about 6,000 spectators will be at the 10,000-capacity Stade Linite for the match, which will kick off at 4.30pm (1.30pm Nigeria time).
