AFCON Qualifier: Taifa Stars Land In Uyo For Super Eagles Tie

Ahead of Saturday’s 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier at the Akwa Ibom International Stadium, the delegation of the Tanzania team have arrived Uyo to face the Super Eagles.

They came aboard a Dana Air flight to Uyo after initially landing in Abuja and were received by the Nigeria Football Federation Deputy General Secretary, Dr. Emmanuel Ikpeme, before the visiting team was driven to the Ibom Le Meridien hotel.

The Taifa Stars are still searching for their first win over the Super Eagles after five previous clashes. The first encounter between the two teams was at the 2nd All-Africa Games that Nigeria hosted in 1973, with Nigeria edging the tie 2-1. In 1980, at the 12th Africa Cup of Nations finals also hosted by Nigeria, the Green Eagles lashed the Taifa Stars 3-1 in the tournament’s opening match.

In the qualifying race for the Spain ’82 FIFA World Cup finals, both teams drew 1-1 at the National Stadium in Lagos, before Nigeria won 2-0 in Dar es Salaam thanks to goals by John Chidozie and Christian Nwokocha.

The Eagles walked over the Taifa Stars in a 1986 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying fixture. In the first half of this fixture, in Dar es Salaam in September last year, both teams drew 0-0.

The Super Eagles on Thursday intensified their preparation at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo, with a commitment to using the match as rehearsal for next month’s 2018 FIFA World Cup Qualifying Series Matchday 1 encounter against Zambia in Ndola.

Meanwhile, officials for Saturday’s match also arrived in Nigeria on Thursday. They are Mr. Bokinda Inyangi (Democratic Republic of Congo), who is match commissioner, and Algerians Mehdi Abid Charef (referee), Abdelhak Etchiali (first assistant), Ahmed Tamen (second assistant) and Mustapha Ghorbal (reserve referee).