The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has approved only the Akwa Ibom International Stadium for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers in June this year.
CAF confirmed this in an official communiqué sent out on Monday. The body noted that the list, which included 48 countries, is specific for the AFCON group stage qualifiers on Matchday 5.
With only the stadium in Uyo approved for Nigeria, it appears the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium in Abuja is banned.
This suggests CAF has declared that Nigeria has only one stadium fit enough to host elite CAF/FIFA games.
Coach Peseiro was in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, as a big guest for the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) match day 35 between Akwa United Football Club of Uyo and Plateau United last year.
He was later on a guided inspection of the stadium facility. The Portuguese and his assistant, Acacio Santos, inspected the natural grass in the main bowl, the two training pitches, dressing rooms, referees’ rooms, conference rooms, and the stadium environment, among others.
A draw against Sierra Leone in their next fixture will seal a place in Cote d’Ivoire 2023.
cc: DailyPost
