Soccer: Arsenal cancels match with Nigerian Eagles; “complexities” in Abuja

Arsenal announced that the proposed game has been called off due to “complexities”

associated with organising such a game. Local media reports yesterday speculated that the security concerns in the northern part of the country may have been responsible for the cancellation. There were also doubts over the venue of the game after Nigeria sports minister Bolaji Abdullahi said this week that they will not rush the renovation of the Abuja National Stadium pitch in time for Arsenal’s visit.

Special to USAfricaonline.com,  the USAfrica-powered e-groups of  Nigeria360, IgboEvents, UNNalumni,  and CLASSmagazine Houston. Follow us at Facebook.com/USAfricaChido and Twitter.com/Chido247

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) have said they will not speculate on why EPL side Arsenal have cancelled a playing tour to the country next month.

Arsenal were billed to play against a Nigerian selection on August 5 in the country’s capital city of Abuja as part of their pre-season tour. “We will not speculate on why this tour was cancelled because in the first place we are not the organisers of this match,” said NFF general secretary Musa Amadu.

“The explanation we received from the organisers as well as Arsenal was also what was posted on their website and we are okay with that.”

Arsenal announced that the proposed game has been called off due to “complexities” associated with organising such a game. Arsenal marketing director Angus Kinnear said: “Bringing a top-level club to an international market is always complicated and logistically challenging. With the proposed match in Nigeria planned for early August, we could not get comfortable on everything needed to satisfy our requirements, so we have reluctantly taken the decision to postpone the team’s visit.” ref: AFP

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 Arsenals-Nigerian Eagles international friendly slated for August 5 in Abuja

USAfrica: One of the very popular teams in England’s soccer world and among Nigerians, Arsenal, will take on the national team of Nigeria, Eagles, in a preseason friendly match on August 5, 3012 at Nigeria’s national stadium in Abuja.
The team known as the Gunners finished 3rd in the UK league during the sat season confirmed the schedule today on its website Arsenal.com

They added that “The club last visited Africa during a tour to South Africa in July 1993, and is returning as a result of the fantastic support which exists for the team, not only in Nigeria, but across the entire continent. The visit to Nigeria will conclude an exciting pre-season tour schedule for Arsenal, who return to both China and Malaysia in July, following the success of last term’s Asia Tour.”

USAfrica notes that for the past 10 years, the level of passion and support from millions of soccer-crazy Nigerians for Chelsea, Manchester United and Arsenal are very high; and curiously in many instances more than the same Nigerians ever show for Nigerian teams.
•By Chido Nwangwu, the Founder & Publisher of USAfrica and the first U.S-based African-owned newspaper published on the internet USAfricaonline.com and CLASSmagazine, Houston.