You are here: HomeSportsSoccer2008 12 26Article 155201

Soccer News of Friday, 26 December 2008

Source: Peter Edema With Agency Report

Stars To Play Eagles

Ghana Football Association (GFA) has agreed to a friendly with Nigeria's Super Eagles on February 11, 2009 with the venue yet to be decided.

However, the French Football Federation (FFF) has asked that the first-ever full international clash with Nigeria be played on June 2, a day earlier than what was agreed between the two countries.

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) scribe, Bolaji Ojo-Oba, who confirmed this, said: "We have finalised all the details for this friendly with Ghana in Nigeria. It is a FIFA window for friendly matches."

Both countries will use the game to prepare for their World Cup qualifying matches at the end of March. Nigeria will play away to Mozambique on March 28 in Maputo while Ghana hosts Benin.

Officials said the venue of this latest West African derby has yet to be decided even though the southern town of Calabar is being highly considered.

This year, Ghana and Nigeria have clashed twice at full international level. Ghana eliminated Nigeria in the quarter-final of the Africa Cup of Nations it hosted earlier this year, winning 2-1.

And earlier this month, Ghana's home-based side pipped its Nigerian counterpart 3-2 on aggregate to qualify for the inaugural Championship of African Nations (CHAN) meant for players featuring in the various domestic leagues.

According to Nigerian officials, the Super Eagles will also clash with Argentina in London on August 11 in another friendly.

However, FFF has asked that the first-ever full international clash with Nigeria be played on June 2, a day earlier than what was agreed between the two countries.

Ojo-Oba told Goal.com in Abuja that on Monday they received a request from their French counterparts to change the date of their scheduled friendly.

"They want the game to now be played on June 2 and not on June 3 as earlier agreed. We have contacted our coach to know if that is okay by him," said Ojo-Oba.

It was also learnt that FFF will do a special press conference to announce this historic fixture 'in a couple of days.'