Nigeria to play Japan
The Super Eagles will launch their World Cup preparations on October 7 with a friendly against Japan, the Nigerian FA have revealed.
The association`s secretary general Dr Tijani Yusuf told reporters in Abuja that both associations have agreed in principle that the match be held in Europe for financial and convenience purposes with London or Paris being the venue.
"To stage the match here in Nigeria, we will need about $400,000, which at the moment is beyond us. The marketing company handling the deal has arranged for the game to take place in Europe to make it easier for most of our players to participate. We are happy about that," Yusuf said.
Nigeria`s inability to play international friendly games
has contributed to their poor placing in FIFA `s world rankings, but Yusuf assured that all hands were being on desk to arrange as many games for the Eagles as possible.
He said: "We are determined to ensure that the Eagles prepare very well for the World Cup. Before the match with Japan, we are working on two friendly games in South Korea in September and the details will be announced as soon as the deals are finalised."
Meanwhile, coach Shuaib Amodu has submitted the list of 18 players to be invited for the Japan match, who are coached incidentally by Nigeria`s former manager Philippe Troussier.
South Africa began their own preparations yesterday with a game against Sweden in which they were trounced 3-0.
