Fifa rejects Nigeria's application to switch Tuesday's World Cup qualifier to Abuja

GLOBAL football governing body Fifa has rejected Nigeria's request to host Friday's World Cup qualifier against Swaziland at the National Stadium in Abuja after the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) made a last minute request to switch the game there.

 

Originally, Nigeria had asked to host the match at the Adokiye Amesiamaka Stadium in Port Harcourt but last week, the NFF requested a change of venue. In a request to Fifa, the NFF asked that the match be moved to Abuja for logistical reasons but this application has been rejected because it was not received within the mandatory 10 days allowed for such a request.

 

A Fifa spokesman said: “The request failed because it was not done within the 10-day window allowed for such requests.”

 

Minnows Swaziland held star-studded Nigeria to a goalless draw in the first leg of the 2018 World Cup qualifier in Lobambo and the return clash is slated for Tuesday afternoon in Port Harcourt. Whoever wins the tie will advance to the group stage of the qualifying series for Russia 2018.