From: Diana-Okon Effiong
The Cross River Government says it expects FIFA and the Nigerian soccer federation to disregard the Malawian soccer federation’s protest over the U.J. Esuene stadium as venue of the Sept. 7 World cup qualifier.
The Malawian male senior national team is expected to lock horns with Nigeria for the qualifier but it reportedly lodged a protest with FIFA calling for shift of venue to Abuja or Lagos citing unsubstantiated security concerns.
Malawi trails Nigeria by two pints and has to win on set. 7 progress to the play-offs. It is hoping to defeat The 2013 African champions to qualify for the final stage of the qualifiers.
The Flames of Malawi Monday lodged a complaint with the World football governing body, FIFA, citing security fears at the U.J. Esuene Stadium, Calabar, Cross River State, where Nigeria hosts the Flames for the September 7 World Cup qualifier.
The Football Association of Malawi Chief Executive Officer, Suzgo Nyeirenda, confirmed writing FIFA.
He also disapproved the choice of referee Hamada el Moussa Nampiandraza for the Group F winner-takes-all match.
“There is security risk in Calabar where the match will be played as reported by the Commonwealth Commission.
“ The venue of the match is risky to our delegation and we would like FIFA to shift to Abuja or to a neutral country where our delegation will be safe,” Nyeirenda wrote to FIFA general secretary.
“Calabar has been flagged as a high-risk security area and this alert cannot be taken lightly. Our Minister of Sports will be part of the travelling delegation and we don’t want to take security risk by travelling to Calabar.”
But the Cross River State Government through Mr Patrick, the Commissioner for Youths and Sports Development, said felt that the South African nation is being mischievous and insincere in categorising Calabar as security risk.
Ugbe conveyed the Cross River Government’s reaction in an interview with sports writers in Calabar.
“We understand that Malawi protested to FIFA; that they do not want to come to Calabar; I personally believe that because they know that the Super Eagles has never lost a match in Calabar it will be a tough one for them.
“They need outright victory if they must stay in contention, while Nigeria needs, at worst, a draw in that match for us to proceed to the next stage. They want the match to be played elsewhere and are citing security reasons.
“It shows that they have a very poor knowledge of Nigeria otherwise they would have been asking FIFA to bring the match to Calabar one of the safest place to be in Nigeria.
“And again there is something else. They are playing mind games with our national team. African football should grow beyond the level it is at the moment and the Malawian attitude is not a good example for such growth.
“ They should prepare to go and play the match and either win or lose and take it. Would say that there are security issues in Calabar? No!
“They followed the train of Eagles matches in Calabar and have seen that the national team has not lost any match in Calabar.
“The only way they can fight Nigeria psychologically is to appeal to FIFA to take the match away from Calabar and see how it will affect the psyche of the team. But there are no security issues in cross River.
“We have hosted virtually everything in sports here in Calabar; we have hosted FIFA. The National Federation, I am sure will respond to this. I am disappointed that Malawi would resort to this kind of mind game rather than focus on the game,’’ Ugbe said.
He also advised that football fans should come out to cheer the Super eagles to victory Sept. 7 in the qualifier with Malawi
“Our fans should come out and cheer the team. And there are new players that will come in to play for Nigeria. Shola Ameobi has never played for Nigeria. He is part of the team now and will be here.
“There are players to look forward to watching as well. injury permitting Emmanuel Emenike, the star of the last African Cup of Nations that Nigeria won in South Africa will be back as well.
“It is the prerogatives of the coach and the soccer federation to decide where the Super Eagles play in Nigeria. I am confident they will play their matches in Calabar,’’ he said.
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