BY Remi Sulola
Julius Berger has begun work on the turf of the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo, ahead of next month’s 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifier between Nigeria and Algeria.
This renovation is the result of complaints by Super Eagles players, after playing on the turf in the 2017 Cup of Nations qualifier against Tanzania in September.
On Thursday, Emmanuel Ikpeme, NFF deputy-general Secretary, led Abdelwahab Djahid Zefizef, first vice-president of the Algeria Football Federation (FAF)on a guided tour of the stadium, following a written request to that effect by the FAF.
A second inspection has been fixed for Tuesday, October 25, while the final inspection will come up on Wednesday, November 2.
“It is a task that we are approaching with all seriousness, and we want to appreciate the Akwa Ibom State Government for the seriousness that it is also attaching to this important task,” Ikpeme said.
Group B leaders Nigeria host Algeria’s Fennecs at the stadium on November 12 in one of the Match Day 2 encounters.
Nigeria beat Algeria to lift its first-ever Africa Cup of Nations when hosting in 1980, but Algeria returned the compliment when hosting 10 years later.
Algeria defeated Nigeria home and away in 1981 in the qualifying race for the 1982 FIFA World Cup, but Nigeria returned the compliment in 2005, in the race for the 2006 FIFA World Cup.
In the qualifying race for 1994 FIFA World Cup, Nigeria defeated Algeria in Lagos and drew with the Fennecs in Algiers to seal its maiden World Cup appearance.
Algeria came from behind to beat Nigeria at the 1982 Africa Cup of Nations in Libya. Both countries played a 0-0 draw at the 1984 Africa Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire, but Nigeria ousted Algeria on penalties in the semi finals of the 1988 Cup finals in Morocco.
Nigeria defeated Algeria 1-0 at the 2002 Africa Cup in Mali and by the same scoreline at the 2010 Africa Cup finals in Angola to win bronze
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