Super Eagles players called up for next month’s 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier on the 7th of September will fly direct into Seychelles from their bases in Europe except one, Ikechukwu Ezenwa, who plays in the NPFL for Enyimba.
A squad list of 24 players and four standby players was named for the game last Friday in a media conference in Lagos. Nigeria are third in Group E after losing their first game to South Africa in Uyo last June.
According to a communique released by the Nigeria Football Federation executive committee after a meeting on Monday, the board agreed that the said player (Ikechukwu Ezenwa) from Nigeria and Nigeria–based match officials will fly from Nigeria aboard a commercial aircraft.
It also revealed that the Technical and Development Committee, working with the Strategy Committee, will come up with a definite venue within ten days for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match between the Super Eagles and Libya, scheduled for 10th October 2018.
“Board directed the Secretariat to work assiduously towards making adequate arrangements for players and officials of the Super Eagles for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match against Seychelles in Victoria on Friday, 7th September 2018,” the communique released by the Nigeria Football Federation executive committee stated.
“For ease of logistics and in consideration of convenience, Board approved that the players (as well as team officials not based in Nigeria) fly direct into Seychelles from their bases in Europe while the one player from Nigeria and Nigeria –based match officials fly from Nigeria aboard commercial aircraft.
“The Technical and Development Committee, working in harmony with the Strategy Committee, is to come up with a definite venue for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match between the Super Eagles of Nigeria and the Senior National Team of Libya, scheduled for 10th October 2018. Committee mandated the sub-committees to hold meetings with relevant stakeholders in possible host cities and revert back with an agreed venue within the next 10 days.”
The communique also revealed that a meeting will be held on Tuesday (Today) between the League Management Company and the NFF’s Football Committee to ensure a credible conclusion of the various Nigerian leagues in this season.
“In view of the fact that Nigeria must submit names of her representatives in the next CAF Champions League and CAF Confederation Cup competitions latest 15th October, and granted the ground lost to the recent troubles which made any domestic football impossible, Board mandated the League Management Company and the NFF Football Committee to hold important meetings on Tuesday, 28th August to look at various options and strategies of ensuring a credible conclusion to the various Leagues in this Football Season.
“The League Management Company is to interface and agree with relevant groups to conclude the Nigeria Professional Football League season while the NFF Organizing Committee was also mandated to ensure a seamless National Finals of the AITEO Cup Competition.
“In view of the fact that Nigeria must submit names of her representatives in the next CAF Champions League and CAF Confederation Cup competitions latest 15th October, and granted the ground lost to the recent troubles which made any domestic football impossible, Board mandated the League Management Company and the NFF Football Committee to hold important meetings on Tuesday, 28th August to look at various options and strategies of ensuring a credible conclusion to the various Leagues in this Football Season.
“The League Management Company is to interface and agree with relevant groups to conclude the Nigeria Professional Football League season while the NFF Organizing Committee was also mandated to ensure a seamless National Finals of the AITEO Cup Competition.
The board also charged the national U-17 coach Manu Garba to ensure that team qualifies for the 2019 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations to be staged in Tanzania despite their Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) tests setbacks and added that the Super Falcons coach, Thomas Dennerby, should work out a comprehensive training/preparation programme towards Nigeria’s successful defence to their title.
“With the conclusion of the Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) tests for the new set of players of the U17 National Team concluded and the contingent billed to travel out to Niamey, Niger Republic on Friday for the 2019 Africa U17 Cup of Nations qualifying tournament starting this weekend, the Board charged the Manu Garba –led technical crew to work hard towards conquering every opposition there and delivering the ticket that will qualify the team to the finals of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations to be staged in Tanzania.
“Executive Committee directed the Technical and Development Committee to request from the Head Coach of the Super Falcons, Mr. Thomas Dennerby, a comprehensive training/preparation programme towards Nigeria’s successful defence of the Women Africa Cup of Nations title at the 11th Championship scheduled for 17th November – 1st December 2018.
“Committee insists that no stone must be left unturned to ensure Nigeria successfully defends the title and qualifies for the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup finals which will be staged in France.”