Nigeria Football Federation have arranged two international friendly matches for the Super Eagles to take place in Austria next month. Ivory Coast is one of the two Nigeria’s opponents in FIFA window for international matches.
But the Ivorian Football Federation unfortunately declined the offer. The federation therefore sent a letter the NNF on 22nd September regretting their inability of travelling to Austria though agreed earlier. They mentioned “internal problems.”
It might be disappointing but NFF are rather delighted as stronger Algeria immediately accepted the challenge. The three-time African champions will thus play Algeria on 9th October at the Jacques Lemans Arena. This followed a phone call from the NFF President, Mr. Amaju Melvin Pinnick to his Algerian counterpart, 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 Algerian Football Federation.
The clash in Austria next month would be the fourth between the Super Eagles and the Fennecs in three years. Both teams were in the same qualifying pool for the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
On Friday, the NFF commended the Embassy of Austria in Nigeria for the dispatch with which the embassy attended to technical and backroom staff of the Super Eagles who are heading to Austria for the two games. All the officials got their visas to travel.
Midfielder Oghenekaro Etebo, recently arrived in Turkey from Spain to join top club Galatasaray, will be part of the events. He also already got his visa to travel to Austria.
Tunisia, ranking number two in Africa and 26th in the world, will be the Super Eagles’ second opponent. The encounter will take place at the same Jacques Lemans Arena on 13th October.