Eagles friendly with Gabon in doubt

Super Eagles friendly encounter against 2012 Nations Cup co-hosts Gabon is in doubt after both countries expressed concern over date for the tie.

The match was billed to be played on May 27 in Libreville but considering the more important 2014 World Cup and 2013 Nations Cup qualifiers both teams will be playing in June, a new date will have to be agreed.

After the 3-2 loss to the Pharaohs of Egypt in Dubai early this month, two more friendly matches against Peru and Gabon were lined up by the Nigeria Football Federation for the Super Eagles before the World Cup qualifier against Namibia on June 3 and the second leg of the 2013 Nations Cup qualifier against Rwanda on June 17. Gabon will play Niger in the World Cup qualifier on the same date. Eagles’ media officer Ben Alaiya said on Sunday that the team would concentrate only on the Peru friendly before the two qualifiers.

“Both teams would have loved to stage the friendly encounter which would have prepared their teams for the matches ahead, but the time is not right for the match to come up. Both countries have crucial qualifiers coming up in the coming weeks and none of them want to risk a qualifier for a friendly,” he said.

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