The international friendly matches arranged by the Nigeria Football Federation in Austrian and billed for October between Nigeria, Cote d’Ivoire and Tunisia have met a setback.
According to theNFF.com, Nigeria will no longer be able to play Cote d’Ivoire any longer but will instead tackle reigning African champions Algeria.
The matches fall within the FIFA window for international matches and have been approved by world football –governing body, FIFA and CAF.
The Federation Ivorienne de Football, on 22nd September, sent to the NFF a letter regretting their inability to send a team to Austria for the game as earlier agreed, citing “internal problems.”
However, what at first seemed a disappointment turned into delight as stronger Algeria immediately accepted to tango with three-time African champions Nigeria on 9th October at the Jacques Lemans Arena.
This followed a phone call from President of the NFF, Mr. Amaju Melvin Pinnick to his Algerian opposite number, Mr. Kheireddine Zetchi.
“We have permission from our government to travel from Algeria to Austria and our country has reopened international flights. We also would like to confirm that FIFA match agent Me Jairo Pachon is authorised to carry on all the required work and planning in Austria in order to stage this event,” wrote Mohamed Saad, General Secretary of the Federation Algerienne de Football.
Midfielder Oghenekaro Etebo has already been issued his visa to enter Austria.
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Tunisia, rated number two in Africa and 26th in the world, will be the Super Eagles’ second opponents at the Jacques Lemans Arena on 13th October.
This article was most recently revised and updated 4 years ago
