The Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to Brazil, His Excellency, Vincent Okoedion, at the weekend visited the secretariat of the Nigeria Football Federation in Abuja, as both the NFF and the Embassy put finishing touches to arrangements for Nigeria’s participation at the FIFA Confederations Cup.
Okoedion said: “The whole of Brazil is presently animated for the FIFA Confederations Cup. Hotels and transportation services are being booked ahead, as so
many people are showing big interest in the tournament.
“Even within Brazil, the quest for the hospitality and transportation services, as well as tickets for the matches, is high. I have come to the NFF so that we can harmonize our strategies to be able to cater for the large contingent of Nigerians expected for the event.”
The FIFA Confederations Cup, which features the champions of the six continents of the world alongside the host nation and one other, traditionally comes as dress rehearsal for the FIFA World Cup finals and is staged exactly one year before FIFA’s flagship tournament in the same country hosting the World Cup.
This year’s showpiece, which takes place between June 15 and 30, will welcome Spain (World and European champions), Nigeria (champions of Africa), Uruguay (champions of South America), Mexico (champions of North America), Japan (champions of Asia), Tahiti (champions of Oceania), host Brazil and Italy (Europe’s number two).
Nigeria, the last to qualify after winning the Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa in February, tackle world champions Spain, South American champions Uruguay and Oceania champions Tahiti in Group B.
The Super Eagles’ only previous participation at the competition was in 1995 in Saudi Arabia, when it was still known as Intercontinental Tournament for the King Fahd Cup.
Host Brazil, with five FIFA World Cup wins and four-time world champions, Italy, are favourites in a Group A that also has Mexico and Japan.
The NFF’s General Secretary, Barrister Musa Amadu, said: “We are happy with Ambassador Okoedion’s visit. Of course, the NFF and the Nigeria Embassy in Brazil have been working on several areas of services to be provided at the competition. The Ambassador’s visit only underscores the fact that the Embassy and ourselves are working assiduously for a hitch-free participation by Nigeria at the tournament.”
The Super Eagles will spend two weeks at a training camp in Nuremberg, Germany in May before flying to Texas, USA for the prestigeous friendly match with Mexico on May 31, and then fly back to Frankfurt, before flying to Nairobi on June 4 for a 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifier against the Harambee Stars.
The contingent will proceed to Windhoek on June 7 for another 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Namibia, scheduled for June 12, and then fly to Johannesburg on the morning of June 13.
In Johannesburg, the Super Eagles will fly same day to Sao Paulo (Brazil), and spend the night there, before flying to Belo Horizonte on June 14 for their first match at the FIFA Confederations Cup, against Tahiti.
Nigeria will also play Uruguay in Salvador on June 17 before taking on Spain in Fortaleza on June 20.
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