The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) says it has perfected all arrangements relating to the Super Eagles’ run-in to the 20th FIFA World Cup finals
NFF spokesman Ademola Olajire said in London today that logistics for all friendly matches, hotel accommodation, international flights, local flights, movements to and from airports and hotels, feeding and conducive environments have all been dealt with to the letter.
“I can tell you that the NFF is on top of the situation and not taking anything for granted. The FIFA World Cup is the biggest project there is in football and as far as the present NFF is concerned, every detail is important.”
He disclosed that earlier in the day, two assistants of the NFF’s FIFA Match Agent, Jairo Pachon, departed London for Philadelphia, USA to prepare for the Super Eagles’ arrival on Thursday. London to Philadelphia is a seven-hour flight.
After tonight’s clash with Scotland’s Tartan Army at the Craven Cottage, the Eagles’ delegation, led by NFF President Aminu Maigari, will leave for Philadelphia on Thursday morning aboard a British Airways flight. They will then be driven by bus to The Westin Philadelphia hotel.
After playing Greece at the Philadelphia Union Stadium on June 3, the Eagles will move to Jacksonville, Florida for the match against the United States on June 7.
On June 10, the African champions will fly to Sao Paulo, a nine-hour trip, where they will be met on arrival by FIFA’s transport and accommodation officials, as well as officials of the Local Organising Committee and the NFF’s advance delegation.
The delegation will then be driven to the Team Base Camp, Vitoria Hotel Concept in Campinas, 60 minutes away. The hotel was inspected and approved by Coach Stephen Keshi the day after the World Cup Draw in Salvador last December.
Stephen Keshi’s wards will train at the Brinco do Ouro Stadium, the playing pitch of which recently underwent extensive upgrade at the prompting of the NFF. The Mayor of Campinas, Mr. Jonas Donizette, has at various times assured of adequate security for Team Nigeria. Portugal is the only other team staying in Campinas.
FIFA will take over the team upon from Sao Paulo, and make arrangements for chartered flights from Campinas to match venues in Curitiba, Cuiaba and Porto Alegre. It will also arrange Venue –Specific Training Sites in those venues.
However, the NFF already knows that the Super Eagles will stay at Radisson Hotel Curitiba when they go to play Iran on June 16; at the Hotel Hits Pantanal when they go to Cuiaba to play Bosnia-Herzegovina on June 21; and at Holiday Inn Porto Alegre when they visit that city to play Argentina on June 25: exactly 20 years to the day both teams clashed at the 1994 World Cup in the USA.
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