Rwanda drag Eagles to new venue

Officials of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) have confirmed that the 2013 Nations Cup qualifier between Rwanda and Nigeria will no longer be played at the earlier announced Amahoro Stadium but in a smaller facility also in the capital city of Kigali. 

Musa Ahmadu, Acting General Secretary of the NFF, told journalists he has been officially communicated by his counterpart from Rwanda FA that the February 29 match will now be played at the Stade Regional de Kigali. 

“We have been informed that the match will be played at a different stadium because the Amahoro Stadium is under renovation,” Amadu disclosed. 

Compared to the previous venue, the new match venue is more compact and has a capacity for 22,000 fans.

It however has an artificial pitch just like the Amahoro Stadium. 

Stade Regional de Kigali is also the home ground of the Rwanda’s biggest club, APR. 

Feeling the heat

In the meantime, the Eagles began getting set for the heat they are expected to encounter on match day in Rwanda by training in Abuja by 1.15pm local time Monday. 

The tropical heat will also mean the artificial pitch is hot and so make the players’ boots also unbearably hot. 

The training lasted for about two hours with the players expressing their readiness to fight for victory no matter the discomfort they face. 

“Guys, bear the heat because Rwanda would be hotter than this on the match day,” warned Keshi as his players struggled with the early afternoon heat.

“This is your business and you must be good and ready. 

Kano Pillars midfielder, Gabriel Reuben, said he was getting set for the encounter and was sure that his teammates will get used to the weather before the team jet out to Kigali. 

Striker Sunday Mba and goalkeeper Chigozie Agbim spoke in similar vein, with a strong conviction that the only thing on their minds is victory in Rwanda. 

All the 19 players in camp took part in the initial light work-out save for the Heartland pair of Bathlomew Ibenegbu and Kabir Umar, who were excused because they both featured in the Nigeria Premier League clash against Rangers Sunday.