NFF Gets Wish as CAF Notify Libya of Change in Venue, Date

The Libyan Football Federation (LFF) has announced that they have been notified by the Confederation of African Football that the upcoming 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Nigeria will no longer be held at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium on October 12.

The matchday three fixture in Group E of the AFCON qualifiers is now scheduled to take place at Godswill Akpabio International Stadium on Saturday, October 13.

As previously reported by allnigeriasoccer.com, Super Eagles coach, Gernot Rohr expressed his concerns about the Ahmadu Bello Stadium when he met with the leadership of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) during The Best FIFA Football Awards 2018 in London on Monday, September 24.

The German added that the pitch was not up to standard and his players would not be comfortable playing on the turf.

It is understood that taking the game to Kaduna earlier was a political move by the NFF chiefs which has backfired.

It would be recalled that CAF slammed Nigeria with a $5,000 fine for allowing excess spectators at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium for an AFCON qualifier against Egypt in March 2016.

Super Eagles technical adviser, Gernot Rohr has affirmed that he cannot afford to take his team’s forthcoming Africa Cup of Nations qualifies against Libya with levity because qualifying the competition could determine his future with Nigeria’s national team.

With days ticking away towards the first leg of a double-clash with Libya in the next stage of the AFCON 2019 qualifiers, Rohr said he needs all his key players for the game on October 12, because he has to win and put the qualification campaign on a sound footing.

Footballlive.ng can report that the Franco-German gaffer hinted that he will not invite any untested player for the home and away fixtures against Libya, as he cannot afford to experiment during the forthcoming games.

Meanwhile, Rohr has stressed that the Eagles will go out full blast against Libya both home and away to secure six points and stand a stronger chance of qualifying for AFCON 2019 in Cameroon.

He admitted that Libya have a formidable team that can surprise any opponent if underrated, hence his target to beat them in Nigeria and possibly secures a point in Tunisia.

The former Bordeaux of France tactician added that all his players are well aware of the task ahead and are happy that they have admitted that they cannot afford to miss AFCON 2019, haven failed to qualify for the past two previous editions in 2015 and 2017.

Rohr stated: “You know that qualifying for AFCON will help me keep my job, so I will not take chances.

“Only players that are ready to give me 100 per cent at the field of play I will use against Libya.

“There will be no time for experiment and only the best I will use for the match.”