The Nigeria Football Federation(NFF) has assured the Golden Eaglets that they will be given full support as they finalize preparations for the 11th African U-17 Championship in Niger Republic.
The Football Federation has been actualizing plans to make the team’s stay in that country comfortable and as part of this strategy, the NFF Director of Competitions, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi visited Niamey, capital of Niger Republic last week to meet with prominent personalities within the Local Organizing Committee and officials of the Embassy of Nigeria.
“I had meetings with the top officials of the local organizing committee of the championship, including the President of LOC, General Secretary of FENIFOOT and the Head of Competitions. Our meetings centered on accommodation and transportation of Team Nigeria during the championship, as well as accreditation of the Nigerian delegation, ticketing and other logistics.
“I also met with the top people in the Embassy of Nigeria in Niamey, with particular emphasis on ticket issues.”
Dr. Sanusi also discussed with members of the local organizing committee of the 11th African Junior Championship on the movement of the Nigerian team into Niger Republic.
“Since they are having their final training in Sokoto, we are making arrangements for them to move into Niamey by road, and I have intimated the organizers and we have finalized on security arrangement for the team.”
The Nigerian team of 21 players, 10 officials and a number of administrative officials will depart Sokoto for Niamey on Thursday, 12th February. The Eaglets will stay at the Hotel Royale Palace, with their first two matches (against host Niger Republic and Guinea) at the Stade General Seyni Kountche, while the last match (against Zambia) will take place at the Stade Municipal, which has artificial turf.
“The Nigeria community in Niger Republic is also eagerly awaiting the arrival of the Golden Eaglets, the world champions. They have promised to give the Eaglets maximum support to go all the way and win the African trophy, which will serve as a launch-pad towards retaining the FIFA U-17 World Cup title in Chile later this year.”
The competition will kick-off on February 15th till March 1st and Nigeria has been drawn in group A alongside Niger, Guinea and Zambia.
