The Tanzania’s Taifa Stars have arrived in Nigeria set to face the
Super Eagles in Saturday’s 2017
Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match. They first landed in
Abuja on Thursday aboard an Ethiopian Airline flight, and immediately flew to Uyo aboard a Dana Air jet. NFF’s Head of Protocol, Tunde Aderibigbe received the contingent in Abuja and flew together with them to Uyo, while NFF Deputy General Secretary, Dr. Emmanuel Ikpeme
received the delegation at the airport in Uyo. The team was in high spirits and were cheered as they drove through Uyo in their
specially branded bus courtesy of the Governor of Akwa Ibom State to the Le Meridian Hotel which will serve as their home base while in Nigeria. Their first training will be held today when they visit the stadium. The Taifa Stars are still searching for their
first win over the Super Eagles after five previous clashes. The first encounter between the two teams was at the 2nd All-Africa Games that Nigeria hosted in 1973, with Nigeria edging the tie 2-1. In 1980, at the 12th Africa Cup of Nations finals also hosted by Nigeria, the Green Eagles lashed the Taifa Stars 3-1 in the tournament’s opening match. In the qualifying race for the Spain ’82 FIFA World Cup finals, both teams drew 1-1 at the National Stadium in Lagos, before Nigeria
won 2-0 in Dar es Salaam thanks to goals by John Chidozie and Christian Nwokocha. The Eagles walked over the Taifa Stars in a
1986 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying fixture. In the first half of this fixture, in Dares Salaam in September last year, both teams
drew 0-0. The Super Eagles on Thursday intensified their preparation at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo, with a commitment to using the match as rehearsal for next month’s 2018 FIFA World Cup Qualifying Series Matchday 1 encounter against Zambia in Ndola. Meanwhile, officials for Saturday’s match also arrived in Nigeria on Thursday. They are Mr. Bokinda Inyangi (Democratic Republic of
Congo), who is match commissioner, and Algerians Mehdi Abid Charef (referee), Abdelhak Etchiali (first assistant), Ahmed Tamen (second assistant) and Mustapha Ghorbal (reserve referee).
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