Tanzania/Nigeria: Under 23 Fly to Nigeria

Tanzania Daily News (Dar es Salaam)

Daily News Reporter And Agencies

15 June 2011

THE national U-23 soccer team, Vijana Stars, is expected to leave for Nigeria on Thursday to face their counterparts in the return leg match of the 2012 Olympic Qualifiers scheduled to take place in Benin City on Saturday.

Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) Information Officer, Boniface Wambura, said the squad will attend the national flag’s presentation ceremony at Mikocheni in Dar es Salaam, where the team has been camping.

Vijana Stars garnered a slim 1-0 win in the first leg match played at the National Stadium in the city and will need to play their hearts out in the return leg, to be played at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, should there be hopes of bundling their opponents out.

Wambura said the match’s referee will be Senegalese, Ousmane Fall, who will be assisted by his compatriots, Maguette Ndiaye and Cheikh Toure as Daouda Gueye will serve as fourth official. Match commissar will be Emmanuel Zombre from Burkina Faso.

Nigerians, on their part, have embarked on equally intensive preparations to ensure they progress to the next stage of the qualifiers.

According to a Nigerian newspaper, Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, has urged all soccer loving Nigerians to head to Benin City this weekend in total support for Nigeria’s U-23 national team ‘Dream Team V,’ which is seeking to conquer Vijana Stars.

Oshiomhole, speaking on behalf of Sports Commissioner, Iziegbe Anita Evbuomwan, said the battle cry has become necessary because the opposition is going to be stiff and there is need to mobilize Nigerians in and outside Edo State for the task of overwhelming the East Africans inside the new look Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium.

Sports Ministry spokesperson, Precious Igbonwelundu, stated that the gate fee has been placed on a flat rate of N700 (about 7,000/-) for VIP and N200 (about 2,000/-) for popular side.

In another development, Nigeria U-23 coach, Austin Eguavoen, extended an invitation to Warri Wolves and Super Eagles striker, Ekigho Ehiosun, to join the U-23 team camp ahead of the qualifier.

Also invited is Enyimba of Aba striker, Josiah Maduabuchi, Sunshine Stars midfielder, Otekpa Eneji, as Aberdeen of Scotland striker, Sone Aluko Sunday, arrived at the team’s camp while Vietnam-based striker, Ganiyu Oseni, was expected at the camp on Tuesday this week. Two professionals have been ruled out of the match after sustaining injuries.

They are VVV Venlo of Holland striker, Ahmed Musa and PSV Eindhoven’s midfielder, Rabiu Ibrahim.

The Dream Team V must beat Tanzania with at least two goals to make the final qualifying phase for the London 2012 Olympics.

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