September 5, 2013
As the Nigerian senior national football team, the Super Eagles, take on the Flames of Malawi in a World Cup qualifier at the U.J Esuene Stadium, Calabar, on Saturday, President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Alhaji Aminu Maigari, has insisted that the city of Calabar, capital of Cross River State, is indeed very safe, and has always been very safe, for international matches of all the various national teams.
As the Nigerian senior national football team, the Super Eagles, take on the Flames of Malawi in a World Cup qualifier at the U.J Esuene Stadium, Calabar, on Saturday, President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Alhaji Aminu Maigari, has insisted that the city of Calabar, capital of Cross River State, is indeed very safe, and has always been very safe, for international matches of all the various national teams.
The Malawian Football Association (FAM) had petitioned the world football governing body, FIFA, complaining that the city of Calabar is not safe for the Saturday match.
Speaking at a brief interactive session with members of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria, FCT chapter, on Wednesday afternoon, Maigari applauded the efforts of Governor Liyel Imoke of Cross River State and his administration in hosting the Super Eagles and the U-17 National Team, Golden Eaglets, in their various competitive international matches for the past one-and-a-half years.
“The Government and people of Cross River State deserve nothing but high commendation for their generosity and hospitality. They have continued to be good and great hosts for the Super Eagles and the Golden Eaglets.
“On our part, the NFF has perfected all arrangements to host a hitch-free World Cup qualifying match, and we are assuring the
Government and people of Nigeria that our Super Eagles are adequately prepared to achieve victory against Malawi on Saturday,” said Maigari.
Nigeria needs only a draw in Saturday’s clash at the U. J. Esuene Stadium to progress into the 10-team final elimination round of the African series for the 2014 FIFA World Cup finals in Brazil.
Meanwhile, a delegation of Malawian officials led by FAM's General Secretary Suzgo Nyirenda in company with the body's accountant Christopher Mdoloto arrived Abuja, Nigeria's capital, on Monday to check the condition of Calabar.
Nyirenda in a statement on Tuesday expressed his satisfaction with their inspection of Calabar and some hotels in the town, saying that they were able to select Dannic Hotel, which is 10 minutes drive to the stadium.
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