2016 CHAN Qualifiers: Nigeria/Burkina Faso clash now Saturday


Ilorin – The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) on Wednesday said the 2016 African Nations Championship (CHAN) qualifier between the Super Eagles and Etalons of Burkina Faso would now hold on Saturday.

The 2016 CHAN final round first leg qualifier between the home-based senior national teams was earlier scheduled for Sunday.

In a statement on its website, the NFF however said the match’s venue remains the Adokiye Amiesieamaka Stadium in Port Harcourt, with kick-off scheduled for 4 p.m.

Already, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has appointed Boubou Traore from Mali as the Centre Referee for the encounter.

Traore’s compatriots Bobo Yomboliba, Boubacar Kinta and Harouna Coulibaly will serve as Assistant Referee 1, Assistant Referee 2 and Reserve Referee respectively.

Angolan Pedro De Morais will be the Match Commissioner.

Meanwhile, a total of 25 players are in the Nigerian team’s camp in Port Harcourt under the watchful eyes of assistant coaches Salisu Yusuf and Alloy Agu.

These include goalkeepers Femi Thomas, Ikechukwu Ezenwa, David Obiazor and Okemute Odah, and defenders Chima Akas, Austin Oboroakpo, Kalu Orji, Solomon Kwambe, Idris Aloma, Samson Gbadebo, Jamiu Alimi and Stephen Eze.

Others are midfielders Abdulrazak Aliyu, Ifeanyi Mathew, Paul Onobi, Usman Mohammed, Bature Yaro and Osas Okoro, and forwards Ezekiel Bassey, Chisom Chikatara, Tunde Adeniji, Prince Aggrey, Bright Onyedikachi and Dayo Ojo.

Nigeria failed to qualify for the first two editions of the competition, which is reserved for senior players plying their trade in their country’s domestic league.