14th October, 2015
The Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, has announced that the 2016 African Nations Championship final round, first leg qualifier between the Home–based Senior National Team, Super Eagles B, and the Etalons of Burkina Faso, will now take place on Saturday.
The NFF reported on its website Wednesday that the venue remains the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, Port Harcourt, with kick–off scheduled for 4pm.
No reason was given for the new date of the match which had earlier been fixed for Sunday.
The Confederation of African Football has appointed Boubou Traore from Mali as referee for the encounter.
Traore’s compatriots Bobo Yomboliba, Boubacar Kinta and Harouna Coulibaly will serve as assistant referee 1, assistant referee 2 and reserve referee respectively.
Mr. Pedro De Morais Neto, from Angola, will be match commissioner.
Meanwhile, 24 players are battling for shirts in Port Harcourt under the watchful eyes of Assistant Coaches Salisu Yusuf and Alloy Agu.
Warri Wolves’ ace forward Gbolahan Salami, with 14 goals so far in the Glo NPFL season, is injured and out of the race for a shirt, but apart from fellow Wolves’ boy Paul Onobi who had a knock in training on Tuesday, all other players are fully fit to battle the Etalons.
There are goalkeepers Femi Thomas, Ikechukwu Ezenwa, David Obiazor and Okemute Odah.
Defenders are Chima Akas, Austin Oboroakpo, Kalu Orji, Solomon Kwambe, Idris Aloma, Samson Gbadebo, Jamiu Alimi and Stephen Eze, while midfielders are Abdulrazak Aliyu, Ifeanyi Mathew, Paul Onobi, Usman Mohammed, Bature Yaro and Osas Okoro.
Forwards include Ezekiel Bassey, Chisom Chikatara, Tunde Adeniji, Prince Aggrey, Bright Onyedikachi and Dayo Ojo.
Nigeria failed to qualify for the first two editions of the competition reserved for senior players plying their trade in African countries’ domestic league, but won a bronze medal at the third edition held in South Africa early last year.
The winners over two legs between Nigeria and Burkina Faso will be eligible for a place at the 4th edition of the championship taking place in Rwanda early next year.