AFCON: Nigeria to play Pharaohs on March 25

The next round of the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Qualification match between the Super Eagles of Nigeria and the Pharaohs of Egypt will now hold on March 25.

This was confirmed in a press statement by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), in a press statement on Thursday in Abuja. The decision is sequel to a mail sent to NFF by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) on Wednesday.

“It indicated that Nigeria should endeavour to make room for a minimum of two full days of rest between the two matches,” the federation said.

The match is scheduled for the Ahmadu Bello Stadium in Kaduna and will be the firstof two involving both sides in the qualification competition.

CAF had initially asked Nigeria to pick any day between March 23 and March 26 for the match, with NFF picking March 26.

It had also given Egypt the option of picking any day from March 26 and March 29 for the return encounter.

However, the continental body has now appealed to the NFF to pick a new date so that both teams can have two full days of rest ahead of the second match.

"We have now moved the match forward by 24 hours.

“So, we will play on March 25 and March 26 will serve as the day for the two teams to travel.

“March 27 and 28 will be rest days before the return leg on March 29,’’ NFF General Secretary, Mohammed Sanusi, said in the press statement.(NAN