•Rohr satisfied with Uyo
By Joe Apu
THE Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) said yesterday that there was no time the soccer federation contemplated a change in the venue for the Super Eagles World Cup 2018 qualifier against Cameroon from the Godswill Akpabio Stadium.
Head of media in the Glass House, Ademola Olajire told Daily Sunsports while reacting to insinuations that there is a change of venue that he is at a loss over the issue since the federation at no time issued any statement to that effect.
“I don’t understand where this is coming from because the NFF at no time issued any statement saying that there was a change of venue. Those peddling that story are on their own because I don’t understand why people would want to thrive on rumour.”
The statement seems to fall in line with the thinking of Super Eagles handler Gernot Rohr who insists that he and his players are comfortable playing in Uyo.
“I am in constant touch with the team’s captain (Mikel Obi) and other senior players and they all agree that the team remains in Uyo to finish all qualifiers. Changing the venue will put the boys under pressure. The players are at home with Uyo fans,” Rohr stated.
The coach insisted that the pitch didn’t contribute to his team’s loss against South Africa as speculated by many, and wants them to remain in Uyo to finish both the World Cup 2018 Qualifiers and AFCON 2019 Qualifiers as well.
Nigeria lost her last game at the stadium to South Africa 0-2 in their first AFCON 2019 Qualifiers, and their next competitive game which will be against Cameroon in the race to be at the World Cup 2018 is rumoured to have been shifted from the ground.