For the very first time in the history
of Nigeria’s participation in the FIFA
World Cup finals, the Nigeria Football
Federation has given Head Coach,
Stephen Keshi, the free hand to
determine where his wards will make
home at next year’s finals.
Keshi, who captained Nigeria in her
very first appearance at the FIFA
World Cup finals, in USA in 1994, said
he cherished the opportunity by the
Aminu Maigari administration and
would always strive for the best for
Nigeria.
“I am happy to have been given the
free hand to select the Team Base
Camp. You may think it is a small
gesture but not every Head Coach has
that privilege. I am certainly going to
use the opportunity to select the best
for our team.”
Keshi’s African champions will contend
with two-time world champions
Argentina, Bosnia-Herzegovina and
Iran in Group F.
Keshi is presently inspecting a number
of possible camps in the South
American nation, and specifically
around Sao Paulo.
Most of the 32 participating member
associations are also looking around
Sao Paulo for their team base camp. A
total of 83 TBCs were offered in the
final TBC Brochure.
A Team Base Camp consists of a Team
Base Camp Hotel and a Team Camp
Base Training Site. All participating
member associations must confirm
their Team Base Camp before the end
of next month.
All teams must report at their Team
Base Camp no later that five days
before their first match of the
tournament. In the case of Nigeria,
that means no later than 11th June,
five days before the Super Eagles clash
with Iran at the 41,000 –capacity
Arena da Baixada in Curitiba –a city of
1.7million people in the south of
Brazil.
The Eagles will then tackle Bosnia-
Herzegovina at the 42,000 –capacity
Arena Pantanal in Cuiaba, a city of
approximately 550,000 people in the
centre west, on Saturday, 21st June,
before flying to the south again to play
Argentina in what is Group F’s most
anticipated game. That match comes
up at the 48,000 –capacity Estadio
Beira-Rio in Porto Alegre, a city of
more than 1.4million people,
on Wednesday, 25th June.

Saharareporters.com