Frustrated by the refusal of Ghana to honour a proposed friendly game scheduled for early January, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has turned its search for opposition on Jamaica, Togo, Zambia and Benin Republic as it prepares for the last phase of the African zone of the 2010 World Cup qualifiers.
Nigeria has played several friendly games with Jamaica and the NFF believes the Caribbean country will give the Super Eagles a good test as it gets ready for the qualifiers.
"Ghana has decided for reasons of its own to play Egypt instead of us after negotiations had reached advanced stages," a disappointed Shuaibu Amodu said. "So, now we are looking at Jamaica, but we will only know for sure after the New Year," he added.
The Super Eagles coach explained that the choice of Jamaica was a forced hand, as attempts to arrange games with other African countries are proving difficult. "Most of these countries already have games lined up, and it seems as if others just don't want to play us," he said.
Amodu added that he was especially disappointed at the Ghana snub because an almost certain game against Namibia was jettisoned to make room for the Black Stars.
"We had a game against Namibia lined up, but we decided to pick Ghana because we felt it is always better for us to play against strong African sides. And now that option is no longer available because the Ghanaians left it so late, and then went on to take Egypt.
"But we will hopefully get Jamaica in London. The important thing is for us to get together as a group, keep ourselves busy and talk to each other as a team before we face our first game."
NFF Media Officer, Ademola Olajire, has also listed Zambia, Togo and Benin as teams likely to face the Eagles before the qualifiers begin.
"We have not made any progress with the Ghana Football Association as regards the proposed friendly on February 11 and as such, we are now talking to other countries like Zambia, Togo and Benin to see who will be available on the same day," Olajire said.
"Our target is to play against one of the teams who have qualified for the final round of the qualifiers," he added.
Playing against Benin might not be possible because it is already scheduled to tackle Algeria on February 11 as part of its build-up for the final round of the World Cup qualifiers.
Super Eagles will play its first match of the last round of the qualifiers away to Mozambique on March 28.
Source: ngrguardiannews.com
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Tags:
Latest Stories
-
Maiden Women in Chemical Sciences conference opens with a call for empowerment
2 hours -
We’ll reclaim all Groupe Nduom stolen assets – Nduom declares
2 hours -
Center for Learning and Childhood Development Director Dr Kwame Sakyi honoured at Ghana Philanthropy Awards
11 hours -
Asantehene receives 28 looted artefacts
12 hours -
CAF WCL 2024: Ghana’s Thelma Baffour wins title with TP Mazembe
13 hours -
Benjamin Boakye slams politicisation of energy sector issues and ECG’s inefficiencies
13 hours -
Erastus Asare Donkor and Dr Neta Parsram win big at 10th Mining Industry Awards
13 hours -
Government is “suppressing information” about power sector challenges – IES Director
13 hours -
Majority of our debts caused by forex shortfall – ECG Boss
14 hours -
Pan-African Savings and Loans supports Ghana Blind Union with boreholes
14 hours -
Bole-Bamboi MP Yussif Sulemana donates to artisans and Bole SHS
14 hours -
Top up your credit to avoid potential disruption – ECG to Nuri meter customers
14 hours -
Dutch & Co wins 2024 Entrepreneur of the Year Award
15 hours -
We’ll cut down imports and boost consumption of local rice and other products – Mahama
17 hours -
Prof Opoku-Agyemang donates to Tamale orphanage to mark her birthday
18 hours