Football pundits say that playing tough friendly matches is the best way to prepare any team before a major assignment. Critics, however, are not sure. They feel that it is like organizing mock battles for an army before it heads to the real war. But football administrators in Abuja are not dismayed and seem to have taken the importance of organizing friendly matches to heart.
The Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, has now made public its 2018 FIFA World Cup program for the Super Eagles, revealing venues and dates for six pre-World Cup friendly matches. The NFF also revealed its plan for kit launch, camping programs and venues, the team base camp, sponsors’ event and how the team will travel during the World Cup finals proper.
NFF President, Amaju Pinnick, who unveiled the program at the Eko Hotel & Suites, Victoria Island, explained that the Super Eagles will play Poland, Serbia, Democratic Republic of Congo, England, Czech Republic and a yet-to-be-named South American team before heading to the World Cup finals in Russia.
On 7th February in London, kit sponsors, NIKE will unveil the official kit the Eagles will use at the World Cup finals, while a Sponsors/Partners event will hold also in London hours after the friendly with England’s Three Lions at Wembley on 2nd June.
The team’s first phase camping will hold in Abuja or Uyo between 22nd and 30th May, while the second phase camping will hold at a health resort in Austria between 3rd and 11th June. The Super Eagles official World Cup base camp is at Yessentuki, Stavropol Territory in Russia’s southern region, starting from 11th June.
Meanwhile, the NFF has signed a two-year contract extension with Super Eagles’ Technical Adviser, Gernot Rohr. NFF 1st Vice President, Seyi Akinwunmi, explained that Rohr, initially taken on board in July 2016, deserved the extension after qualifying the Super Eagles for the 2018 FIFA World Cup finals, even with a match to spare. “He has done a very good job and when someone does a good job, he gets a reward. We are proud to have taken Mr. Rohr on board and we are delighted to be signing this contract extension with him.”
Rohr has coached Burkina Faso, Niger Republic and Gabon national teams before landing in Nigeria. He expressed joy at the extension of the relationship, while insisting that all Super Eagles players and officials must remain level-headed and focused in order to achieve desired results.
