Finally Nigeria lines up Taifa Stars for friendly duels

Nigeria has made Tanzania its latest addition of countries it is proposing to play friendly matches with on the countdown to the African Nations Cup that starts in January in Ghana, revealed Nigeria Football Association (NFA) spokesman Ademola Olajire.

The proposed fixture against the Taifa Stars is seen by the Glass House as being able to further help coach Berti Vogts whip his team into shape as well as afford the Super Eagles the challenge of playing African opposition.

Already the Eagles are sure of a loaded build up to Ghana 2008 beginning from October 16 when they will be hosted by Mexico at the Olympic Stadium in Benito Juarez.

The Eagles will then feature against Slovenia in Ljubljana in November with a trip to Switzerland three days later.

Olajire said that the Tanzania match is one of the offers on the table for the NFA to consider during the international open days.

Ironically, controversy enveloped the last request made by Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) to NFA in August for a friendly showdown in Dar es Salaam when the Eagles camped in Nairobi, Kenya for their preparation against Uganda Cranes for a Ghana 2008 group qualifier.

TFF claimed it had brokered agreement with the NFA for the fixture though Nigeria eventually opted for Kenya which made available its camping facilities in Nairobi free of charge for the Eagles.

The Taifa Stars, who last appeared at a Nations Cup final in 1980, will now hope to profit from the meet with Nigeria especially as the 2010 World Cup qualifiers begin next year.

Tanzania suffered a crushing blow in its bid to qualify for Ghana 2008 after the Stars lost their crucial last group match 1-0 at home to Mozambique on September 8.

It is, however, not yet clear how many friendlies the Eagles will actually play before Ghana 2008 because the financial implications of such games will determine which ones they will accept.

Already the Glass House has turned down a proposed friendly with Saudi Arabia on the ground that the money being offered was too small.

Vogts has already criticised the FA`s handling of the build up to the Nations Cup claiming that the Glass House was not doing enough to get the Eagles properly prepared.

The German sweat merchant fired his broadside after the Eagles were unable to honour last month\'s Fifa free day after the match with the Hawks of Togo failed to hold because the Togolese rejected the $50,000 offered them to come to Lagos.