Internal squabbles in the Federation of Benin Football led to the cancellation of the friendly
The Nigeria Football Association, on Friday, announced the cancellation of the international friendly between the Flying Eagles and the Squirrels of Benin Republic.
This was contained in a statement issued in Abuja and signed by Ademola Olajire, the Association?s Media Officer.
The statement noted that the cancellation was due to internal strife in the Benin FA. The friendly was to serve as a tune up match for the two teams, ahead of the upcoming 2013 African Youth Championship qualifiers.
?Internal wrangling within the Beninoise Football Federation that generated a court injunction has led to the cancellation of Sunday?s international friendly between the Flying Eagles and the Young Squirrels of that country,” Olajire disclosed.
?The Flying Eagles were on their way to Lagos for the game when the Nigeria Football Association received information that the Beninoise team would no longer be able to travel as a result of a court injunction against the sitting administration in the Federation of Benin Football (FBF).”
The statement quoted the Association?s General Secretary, Musa Amadu, as saying ?it is unfortunate, because the technical crew and players of the Flying Eagles already had their minds set on the match and were fully focused to gain something out of it.”
?We had mobilised for the team?s movement and accommodation and other logistics in Lagos, before the unfortunate information from FBF.?
The association however said it would arrange for more matches, to prepare the Flying Eagles for the 2013 African Youth Championship qualifier against Tanzania in Dares Salaam in a fortnight.
?We want the team to be well prepared for the fixture, and a number of Premier League clubs could be drafted in to give them quality friendly matches. We are working hard on that.?
The Tanzania Football Federation has already confirmed that the 2013 African Youth Championship qualifier between the Young Taifa Stars and the Flying Eagles in Dares Salaam on July 29 will be played on natural grass pitch.
