World football governing body FIFA have turned down a request by Nigeria for Tuesday’s World Cup qualifier against Swaziland to be moved from Port Harcourt to Abuja.
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), it was specially gathered learnt, demanded the match be moved to Abuja for “logistical reasons”, but FIFA said the application was not received within the mandatory 10 days allowed for such a request.
“The request failed because it was done within the 10-day window allowed for such a request,” an official disclosed.
The southern Nigerian oil city of Port Harcourt has hosted Nigeria’s home games this year thanks to the generosity of Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike, but his election has now been nullified by a tribunal which has ordered for a new vote.
Minnows Swaziland held star-studded Nigeria to a goalless draw in the first leg of the 2018 World Cup qualifier in Lobambo and the return clash is slated for Tuesday afternoon in Port Harcourt.
The overall winners of this match-up will advance to the group stage of the qualifying series for Russia 2018.
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