Chris Maduewesi
Member
Super Eagles coach Stephen Keshi alongside Nigeria's Sports minister Tamuno Danagogo have both inspected the Abuja national stadium to ascertain its readiness for next month's Nations Cup qualifiers against Sudan.
Nigeria will on October 15 host Sudan for its third game in group A,looking at making home advantage count.
There are concerns over the playing surface of the UJ Esuene Stadium in Calabar,with many criticising the pitch after it hosted Nigeria's last home game against Congo.
And there are reports that Nigeria's matches will now be taken away from Calabar and returned back to Abuja.
Keshi was delighted with the improvement made at the stadium,revealing that there is a possibility that Nigeria's will its remaining home games there.
“There is the possibility of the Eagles playing their remaining AFCON qualifying matches here; that’s what we are discussing with the minister in case it doesn’t work out in Calabar," he told the News Agency of Nigeria(NAN)
“Although we will love to play in Calabar, but right now, the pitch has a little problem, so if it’s not going down well there, then we can move down to Abuja and play.
“What I am seeing now at the Abuja stadium is a lot better than what we saw the last time we played here.
“Then, it was so sandy and not very good for players but what I am seeing now is encouraging for players to play on,’’ Keshi said.
Nigeria will on October 15 host Sudan for its third game in group A,looking at making home advantage count.
There are concerns over the playing surface of the UJ Esuene Stadium in Calabar,with many criticising the pitch after it hosted Nigeria's last home game against Congo.
And there are reports that Nigeria's matches will now be taken away from Calabar and returned back to Abuja.
Keshi was delighted with the improvement made at the stadium,revealing that there is a possibility that Nigeria's will its remaining home games there.
“There is the possibility of the Eagles playing their remaining AFCON qualifying matches here; that’s what we are discussing with the minister in case it doesn’t work out in Calabar," he told the News Agency of Nigeria(NAN)
“Although we will love to play in Calabar, but right now, the pitch has a little problem, so if it’s not going down well there, then we can move down to Abuja and play.
“What I am seeing now at the Abuja stadium is a lot better than what we saw the last time we played here.
“Then, it was so sandy and not very good for players but what I am seeing now is encouraging for players to play on,’’ Keshi said.