Eagles reject Hotel

Nigeria Football Federation on Monday rejected the hotel accommodation reserved for the Super Eagles by their Kenyan hosts and immediately set out to make alternative arrangement for the team. The NFF Chief Media Officer Ademola Olajire said that the place named 680 Hotel was turned down because it did not meet the standard expected.

He said on Monday, “The hotel is right in the centre of town with so much noise around it. The Nigeria Football Federation and the Nigeria High Commission are working on alternative accommodation for the African champions.”

The Kenyans also complained about the hotel accommodation they got while in Lagos during the first leg but told The PUNCH that they were quite satisfied with the treatment they got in Calabar where the match held in March. Both countries are billed to meet on Wednesday in a 2014 Brazil World Cup qualifying match.

But despite the disagreement over the accommodation provided, the NFF official confirmed that the Federation of Kenya Football had made arrangement for the Eagles to train at the Moi International Sports Centre at 4pm on Tuesday, but would be willing to allow them use the venue much earlier should Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi prefer a morning work-out. The assurance was personally given by the FKF president, Sam Nyamweya.

Eagles were expected to arrive in Nairobi from Frankfurt, Germany by 1.30am but the team’s midfielder Mikel Obi who missed out on the friendly match against Mexico in Texas, USA arrived Nairobi on Monday ahead of the full squad. Mikel could not join the team in Germany as planned after he failed to get a visa to Germany. The NFF said Mikel informed the team of his inability to secure a Schengen visa to enable him to enter Germany. Reports from the East African country say the Kenyans were hopeful that the Chelsea star also missed the game like the one in Houston, Texas last weekend. Ahmed Musa and Fegor Ogude joined the team on Sunday according to schedule.

Despite the confirmations that key Nigerian players would be available for the match, the Kenyans are boastful about the Wednesday game holding at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani. Nigeria forced Kenya to 1-1 draw when they met in the first leg tie in Calabar.

The pre-match meeting is scheduled for the Bulemart Hotel at 7pm on Tuesday. The match officials, led by Ivorian referee Noumandiez Doue, arrived in Nairobi on Monday.