Ogunjobi cautions NFA on venue for Nigeria, Ethiopia match
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Former Chairman, Technical Committee, Nigeria Football Association (NFA), Taiwo Ogunjobi, has cautioned the body on the choice of venue for the Nations Cup qualifier between Nigeria and Ethiopia.
Ogunjobi told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on telephone on Friday that the NFA should consider the weather before deciding on where the match would be played on March 27.``When taking a decision on the venue for the Nations’ Cup qualifier, the weather situation of the city to be chosen should be considered.
``Kaduna and Kano are very hot now, and Nigerian players are playing in cold weather in parts of Europe where temperatures are sometimes below zero degrees centigrade.
``So, if you bring them three days before the game to play in hot temperature, our opponents will have advantage because their weather is similar to that of Kano or Kaduna.
``We have to be careful so that we don’t experience what happened in Kano in the 2006 World Cup qualifier against Angola,” Ogunjobi said.
He noted that most of the players could not express themselves on the astro-turf of Teslim Balogun Stadium in the friendly match with the Leone Stars of Sierra Leone.
``Synthetic turfs are different from natural grass which the players are used to and that informed their complaints about Teslim Balogun Stadium.
``And playing in an almost empty stadium in Abuja which has grass is not players’ friendly.
``These is the dilemma the NFA is facing but they have to look at all the options before taking a decision on the venue for the all important match,” Ogunjobi said.
On his part, Ademola Olajire, NFA Public Relations Officer, told NAN that decision as to where the match would be played had not been taken.
``The choice of Kano or Kaduna is just a speculation. NFA has not taken a decision on where the match against Ethiopia will be played.
``The board will meet next week and a decision will be taken on the venue for the match.
``We are looking at various options and at the end of the day, I am sure the right decision will be taken,” Olajire said.
The Super Eagles need to win the match having lost their last match 0-1 to the Syli Nationale of Guinea last year in Conakry.
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Ogunjobi cautions NFA on venue for Nigeria, Ethiopia match
Category: Sports Written by , Hits: 1222
Former Chairman, Technical Committee, Nigeria Football Association (NFA), Taiwo Ogunjobi, has cautioned the body on the choice of venue for the Nations Cup qualifier between Nigeria and Ethiopia.
Ogunjobi told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on telephone on Friday that the NFA should consider the weather before deciding on where the match would be played on March 27.``When taking a decision on the venue for the Nations’ Cup qualifier, the weather situation of the city to be chosen should be considered.
``Kaduna and Kano are very hot now, and Nigerian players are playing in cold weather in parts of Europe where temperatures are sometimes below zero degrees centigrade.
``So, if you bring them three days before the game to play in hot temperature, our opponents will have advantage because their weather is similar to that of Kano or Kaduna.
``We have to be careful so that we don’t experience what happened in Kano in the 2006 World Cup qualifier against Angola,” Ogunjobi said.
He noted that most of the players could not express themselves on the astro-turf of Teslim Balogun Stadium in the friendly match with the Leone Stars of Sierra Leone.
``Synthetic turfs are different from natural grass which the players are used to and that informed their complaints about Teslim Balogun Stadium.
``And playing in an almost empty stadium in Abuja which has grass is not players’ friendly.
``These is the dilemma the NFA is facing but they have to look at all the options before taking a decision on the venue for the all important match,” Ogunjobi said.
On his part, Ademola Olajire, NFA Public Relations Officer, told NAN that decision as to where the match would be played had not been taken.
``The choice of Kano or Kaduna is just a speculation. NFA has not taken a decision on where the match against Ethiopia will be played.
``The board will meet next week and a decision will be taken on the venue for the match.
``We are looking at various options and at the end of the day, I am sure the right decision will be taken,” Olajire said.
The Super Eagles need to win the match having lost their last match 0-1 to the Syli Nationale of Guinea last year in Conakry.