NFF Seeks FIFA Intervention In Dates For World Cup Qualifying Matches

nff_logo-300x256The Nigeria Football Federation has forwarded a request to the World Football Governing Body FIFA, asking for a reschedule of Nigeria’s World Cup qualifiers coming up in June.

The NFF specifically stated that it wants the game in Nigeria’s group to be played the same day for the sake of fairness.

According to the NFF General Secretary; Musa Adamu, Malawi will have the upper hand if the request is not granted.

“We make this request in the interest of fairness, as at the moment, Nigeria and Malawi have same number of points (five) and for Nigeria to play two days before Malawi in each of the two important qualifying games in June will give undue advantage to the Malawians,”.

“We see the FIFA Confederations Cup as a key tournament, but we also know we have to qualify for the 2014 FIFA World Cup finals as priority.

“It is important to us to go to the FIFA Confederations Cup and then return to Brazil a year later for the FIFA World Cup finals.”

Come June the 5th, Nigeria will be in Nairobi for the return leg against the Harambee Stars after which they will travel to Windhoek a week later to face Namibia before heading to Brazil for the FIFA Confederation Cup; they will now take on Malawi.

The NFF is proposing that their Group F matches as well as those involving closest rivals Malawi be played on the same day. This would either be on June 5 and 12 or the original dates of June 8 and 15.