The Nigeria Football Federation will not take the Super Eagles out of Uyo for next month's 2027 AFCON qualifier against Tanzania. A federation official said on Wednesday that the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium remains the venue, with the renovated Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos only an option for later games.
“Lagos is under consideration, but Uyo remains the venue for our games,” the official told The Guardian. He spoke on condition of anonymity.
That settles a question raised at the weekend. On Sunday, PM News reported that the NFF was weighing a switch to Teslim Balogun for the home leg. The paper said the move still needed CAF approval. It also depended on renovation work, including a new natural grass pitch, being finished before November.
Why the Glass House is staying put
Readiness comes first. According to the official, Teslim Balogun “is not yet ready to host any game”. NFF inspectors will only assess it once Lagos State completes the work.
Then there is the calendar.
“That would take some time, and the match is less than a month away,” the official said, adding that it “would be unwise for us to move them to Lagos just like that” because the players would have to get used to an unfamiliar ground in a competitive match where a slip could prove costly.
The News Chronicle carried the same line later on Wednesday. Uyo is still the preferred venue. Any return to Lagos would follow an inspection of the stadium, talks with the players and test runs in friendlies.
That caution has history behind it. The last competitive Super Eagles game at Teslim Balogun ended in a 1-0 defeat to the Central African Republic. The winner came in stoppage time. It was a World Cup qualifier, played on 7 October 2021.
What it changes for Nigeria
Nothing on the venue. That is exactly what the federation wants.
Group L has turned delicate. Nigeria opened with a 2-1 comeback win over Madagascar in Uyo on 25 September. Four days later they lost 3-0 to Guinea-Bissau in Bissau. Eric Chelle's side sit on three points, three behind the Djurtus, who also beat the Eagles in a previous qualifier in Abuja. Tanzania are already at the finals. They co-host the tournament with Kenya and Uganda, the hosting race Nigeria failed to win. Still, the Taifa Stars will not be pushovers. Blueprint reported that they lost 2-0 to Guinea-Bissau and drew 1-1 with Madagascar.
The first leg is pencilled in for Uyo on 11 November, with the return tentatively fixed for Zanzibar on 15 November, which leaves Chelle a four-day turnaround and a flight across the continent between two games that will shape Nigeria's route to the finals. His squad is not out yet. The Guardian reported that the NFF and the technical crew are monitoring the players in the coach's pool, and that the list will only be released five days after CAF confirms the date of the first leg, so supporters expecting names this week may have to wait a little longer.
This article was most recently revised and updated 18 seconds ago
