The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) may have technically ruled out the possibility of the Super Eagles using the newly refurbished Abuja National Stadium for the FIFA World Cup play-off tie despite the official unveiling of the stadium today.

The Chairman of the Security Sub-committee of the Federation, Chief Effiong Johnson, who made the disclosure in an exclusive chat with Daily SunSports recently, sited security implication as reason for the decision, warning that it would be difficult to guarantee the safety of the lives of players, officials and the spectators.

Arguing that there would be cautious efforts to restudy the terrain of the stadium to know the kind of security arrangements to put in place before, during and after a match, the chairman of chairmen insisted that it could be a risk for Super Eagles to return to the stadium with an important crucial international qualifier match.

He suggested that for security reasons, it would be wise to test run the organisation of matches at the stadium with an international friendly, stressing: “Playing at the Abuja National Stadium is a different ball game from playing in both Calabar and Kaduna.
“The location of the Abuja Stadium requires a fresh security report on the terrain, to know the kind of precautionary arrangements we have to put in place. If Super Eagles must return to the stadium, it is not going to be with a crucial international match like World Cup play-offs or any qualifier match.

“We can only start from friendly matches to test run the security challenges around the stadium.”



http://sunnewsonline.com/new/sports/nff-rules-out-abuja-stadium-for-world-cup-play-off/

Didn't the stadium have a security before it was abandoned? If i can recollect well, it was used for the nigerian 2009 under17 world tournament which is such a big tournament and needed a maximum security.
Now that they said they've fully refurbished it and would be opened today, aint the security in the stadium refurbished with it or are there any other things?

Tolexander: Doesn't it have a security before it was abandoned? If i can recollect well, it was used for the nigerian 2009 under 17 tournament which is such a big tournament which needs a maximum security.
Now that they said they've fully refurbished it and would be open today, aint the security in the stadium refurbished with it or are there any other things?

Bro, I'm also bewildered by the official's spurious reasoning. The guy should have simply said that the NFF is too broke to host the WCQ in Abuja.

I am happy with all these excuses pls let us play the match in our usual slaughter ground (calabar ) ...

CFCfan:
Bro, I'm also bewildered by the official's spurious reasoning. The guy should have simply said that the NFF is too broke to host the WCQ in Abuja.

The security threat back in Yr. 09 is different from Yr. 2013, the threat has elevated, and any activity that will congregate a crowd in ruling city is a recipe for disaster. I can understand their concern which is valid, let them look for other locations.

Bring the match to the slaughter ground of super eagles; Ahmadu Bello Stadium Kaduna. Security and fans support guaranteed. Calabar is not good for the eagles

Damn!

Why are lagos stadia being discriminated when it comes to issues concerning the natinal team? The venues should be rotated across the geopolitical zones. Abi na only calabar dey nigeria ni

The truth is that the few matches the super eagles had played there didn't go well .
Calabar is the slaughter house

They have buried juju in he calabar stadium, that's why they don't want to use Abuja stadium. If Abuja is not secured, what is Gej doing there, he should go back to the oil creek and rejoin the militants stealing Nigeria's oil.

Even though it is my city, i kinda respect their decision besides Super Eagles are much more familiar with the grounds at Uj Esuene Stadium,Calabar.

Either Abuja of Kano all i need is to see Naija flag flying high in Brazil

A match of this magnitude should nt be taken anywhere else,the super eagles players said calabar is their home,so what else do we want to do.

Abeg they should play it anywhere! I just want good results!

E gud lyk dat sef,ABJ fans 2 dull

Na dem sabi.....

If abuja is not safe and they don't score much in calabar let dem come back to lagos

At the moment, Eagles prefer Calabar to Abuja. NFF does not want to leave any stone unturned, the reason Calabar is still the preferred option.

Play it any where,I'm alrdy viewing d Eagles flying to Brazil

The Abuja National Stadium has too much "bad luck". Super Eagle have hardly ever won any important match there and NFF is very much aware of this problem.

What happened?

Forza p: E gud lyk dat sef,ABJ fans 2 dull

Yeah! I believe this is one of the underlying reasons. Matches played in Abj always experiences a very low turn-out which isnt good for the morale of the players.
Let them take it to where they know people will actually come out to watch.

demelza: Yeah! I believe this is one of the underlying reasons. Matches played in Abj always experiences a very low turn-out which isnt good for the morale of the players.
Let them take it to where they know people will actually come out to watch.

true talk bro

Emmysteve: Super eagles always struggle in Calabar. compare the last three games played in calabar to the one at Kaduna and u would understand that Calabar is not good for the eagles.

Nigeria 1-0 Namibia venue: Calabar
Nigeria 1-1 Kenya venue: Calabar
Nigeria 2-0 Malawi venue: Calabar

Nigeria 2-0 Zambia venue: Kaduna
Nigeria 4-1 Ivory coast venue: Kaduna
Nigeria 4-1 Burkina Faso venue: Kaduna

Mr. Historian,,we're talking security here, U are there basking in the euphoria of past glories...In the END,you go like am by the TIME these useless boko boys strike and fifa disqualify us on technical ground THINGS?

They should not gamble Abuja at this stage.
Calabar remains home at this qualifiers.

[quote
author=Emmysteve]Super eagles always struggle in Calabar. compare
the last three games played in calabar to the one at Kaduna and u would
understand that Calabar is not good for the eagles.

Nigeria 1-0 Namibia venue: Calabar
Nigeria 1-1 Kenya venue: Calabar
Nigeria 2-0 Malawi venue: Calabar

Nigeria 2-0 Zambia venue: Kaduna
Nigeria 4-1 Ivory coast venue: Kaduna
Nigeria 4-1 Burkina Faso venue: Kaduna[/quote]Kaduna indigene

May dem carry the match go Maiduguri for maximum security,boko n jtf

If oyinbo talk say 9ja nor safe na, mumu like Keshi go begin yab.

BRING THE MATCH TO LAGOS IF U DNT WANA REGRET!!!
LAGOSIANS WL MOTIVATE OUR PLAYERS BY PRAISING THEM WEN THEY ARE PLAYING WELL AND STONING THEM WEN THEY ARE SLEEPIN ON D PITCH...

dbeebee: Why are lagos stadia being discriminated when it comes to issues concerning the natinal team? The venues should be rotated across the geopolitical zones. Abi na only calabar dey nigeria ni

Lagos and Abuja fans always turn against the super eagles in the case of eventality thereby making them play 'away' at home.