Guardian

THE Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) says it is not bordered by Kenya’s threat to deal with Nigerians when the Super Eagles arrive in Nairobi for the second leg of their 2014 World Cup qualifier.

The Harambee Stars accused the NFF of maltreating them when they came for the first leg of the tie, which ended 1-1 in Calabar, alleging, among other things, that they were delayed in Lagos and kept in a substandard hotel, and that there was no arrangement to ferry them to Calabar on arrival from Nairobi.

Speaking on the threat by the Kenyans, NFF Secretary General, Musa Amadu, told The Guardian in Abuja yesterday that the Eagles would prepare adequately for the match, adding that they are focused on picking the three points in Nairobi.

He noted that though the Kenyans had apologized to Nigeria for trying to tarnish its image before the game in Calabar, the federation would still put every logistic in place for the June encounter.

“Everybody is concerned about the reception we will receive in Namibia, but I don’t think we should be too concerned because if the Kenyans decided to send a wrong message to their countrymen as to the reception they had here, I am sure they have their reasons.

“However, I want to say it clearly that we gave them the best reception possible. We never promised to charter a flight to fly them from Lagos to Calabar. We never charter a flight to fly teams within the country not even the Super Eagles when they are in the country. We use regular flights.

“In the case of Kenya, the aircraft had left when they arrived and we had to put them in a hotel.

“They never requested for a training field while in Lagos, but they decided to follow somebody not from the federation to train in a primary school all with a view to discrediting the federation. The hotel we put them is of international standard and it is the hotel we have always used to transit all the teams that come into Nigeria.

“We treated them like brothers, cooperated highly with the Kenyan High Commission in Abuja and I know that they apologised to Nigeria for the wrong things they were saying about Nigeria and the federation during the pre-match meeting,” Amadu said.

Amadu also explained the inability the newly appointed technical director, Shaibu Amodu, and his assistants, James Peters and Kashimawo Laloko, to assume duties two months after their employment.

Amadu disclosed that the federation was yet to perfect their contract papers, adding that they would assume duties when all the issues were sorted out.

“I don’t actually know when they will resume; the most important thing is that the board has approved their appointments. They will resume when other things are sorted out.

“Certain areas like their salaries and contract terms have not been sorted out. They will begin work when these areas are sorted out,” Amadu said.