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Whilst the Nigeria
Football Federation (NFF) is yet to decide where the Super Eagles will
be playing their next Africa Cup of Nations qualifier, the team’s
coach, Samson Siasia, has said he prefers Lagos as venue for the match.
The Super Eagles are scheduled to host Ethiopia on March 26.

Though Siasia said
he is yet to officially present his choice of venue to the football
federation, he is confident that the NFF will see reason and accede to
his demand when that is done.

“I have not told
them yet officially but I think they have a hint about what we are
trying to do, they all know that the Lagos State government has been
there for the NFF; so, I don’t think there would be a problem for them
agreeing to the proposal,” he said.

Siasia also said he
would like to start out in a new environment as he reckoned that the
Lagos crowd will avail his team the kind of support they need to excel.

“I remember during
my playing days we used to play our matches in Lagos and the atmosphere
then used to be awesome; people came to watch in their numbers and it
was very interesting. We can play our other matches elsewhere later,”
he said.

Worthy hosts

Already savouring a
chance to host the Eagles in Lagos, Tajudeen Oladeji, a board member of
the state FA said the team can be sure to get the best of hospitality
and facilities in the state.

“Lagos is ready
anytime to host the Eagles, we have one of the best stadiums in the
country and we have the best fans here. Lagos is football and football
is Lagos; it would be nice to have the Super Eagles here after a very
long absence,” he concluded.

It is over a decade
since the Super Eagles played any competitive match in Lagos, the team
however had a slight training session at the Teslim Balogun stadium
en-route its departure to Angola for the 2010 Nations Cup, the fans
where denied access to the training and that did not go down well for
the teeming football fans hoping to see the Eagles play live again in
Lagos.

The Super Eagles’
2-0 victory of Madagascar in Calabar, capital of Cross River State,
last September was their last game in Nigeria. It was an Africa Cup of
Nations qualifying match.

The Eagles are currently second, behind Guinea, in their race
towards qualification for the Nations Cup to be co-hosted by Gabon and
Equatorial Guinea. And they have to top the group as only the group
leaders are guaranteed a spot at the biennial Championships.