NFF sets conditions for Super Eagles’ return to Lagos

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has said it is not in a hurry to move the Super Eagles’ home matches from Uyo to Lagos ahead of their upcoming 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers.

The decision comes after Nigeria suffered a 3-0 defeat to Guinea-Bissau in their second match of the qualifying series.

The NFF is considering hosting the first leg of the upcoming matches in Uyo on November 11, while the return leg is tentatively scheduled for November 15 in Zanzibar.

There have been reports that the federation is considering the newly renovated Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos as a possible venue for Nigeria’s home match, subject to approval from the Confederation of African Football (CAF).

However, a senior NFF official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the federation was not ready to move the team to Lagos or another venue for now.

The official explained that changing the team’s home ground at this stage could affect the players’ performance because they would need time to adjust to a new environment.

“Lagos is under consideration, but Uyo remains the venue for our games,” the official said.

He added that the NFF would first consult the players to know how they feel about playing in Lagos. The federation may also organise friendly matches at the Teslim Balogun Stadium to assess the fans’ response and test the facilities before moving any competitive match there.

According to the official, the Super Eagles have played their home matches in Uyo for nearly a decade, making it important to consider the possible effects of changing their usual venue.

He also said the Teslim Balogun Stadium was not yet ready to host an international match. The NFF would send its inspectors to assess the stadium after the Lagos State Government completes the renovation work.

With less than a month before the scheduled match, the official said there might not be enough time to complete the process.

Meanwhile, the NFF and the Super Eagles’ technical team, led by coach Eric Chelle, have started monitoring players who could be selected for the two matches.

The official explained that the players’ arrival date and other preparations would depend on the dates approved by CAF.

He added that the NFF would announce the squad five days after receiving confirmation of the match dates, taking the players’ availability into account.