Playing in Nigeria is like playing at home, says Sierra Leone’s FA Chairman

AS countries prepare for this weekend’s 2017 Cup of Nations qualifying matches, the President of the Football Federation of Sierra Leone, Isha Johansen, has explained her country’s choice of Nigeria as the venue for their match against Cote d’Ivoire.

The match will hold in Port Harcourt on Sunday.

Speaking in Lagos yesterday, the Sierra Leone Football Federation boss said they chose Nigeria because it is “a father figure and naturally a leader in the continent. And the fact that there has been a bond between Nigeria and Sierra Leone, which is unbreakable. This bond has been there way beyond our fathers and grandfathers time.”

Johansen, who explained the health situation in her country as the main reason for the change of venue for their home matches, said: “We felt Nigeria will be more of a home ground for Sierra Leone in our match against Cote d’Ivoire than any other country.”

Meanwhile, in a related development, information has surfaced why the Lagos State government may have dropped the idea of hosting the match.

One of the key reasons the government failed to honour the request was the facelift being carried out in some sections of the Teslim Balogun Stadium by contractors who are on ground. This work, according to a source, may not allow a match of that magnitude to take place .