Keshi Reacts To Malawi Coach Comment

Nigeria's Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi, was unhappy with the statement of the Belgian born Malawi national football coach, Mr Tom Saintifiet, over the security of Calabar, the venue of the decisive World Cup qualifier next month, on the 7th of September.

Mr Saintifiet, said last week to the media, "Nigeria would like to play in Calabar, because it is close to Cameroon in the South-East of Nigeria, - not so easy to reach with the only connection via Lagos and Abuja, but with no international flights."

Stephen Keshi

 

"There are not so many hotels available, so it will be very difficult to get there. I have one question also about security, because the UK's foreign and commonwealth office says it is a no-travel area."

The Belgian continued, "FIFA they may have to think of shifting the match, either to Abuja or to another place outside Nigeria, because Calabar is obviously not the capital and it is not a big city. The accommodation is not good for such a big game."

He concluding his media satatement by adding, "But I think it is also  a plan by Nigeria. They try to disturb their opponents on and off the pitch. So in all the ways we must be prepared as top professionals to try to find solutions and make good plans."

The football Association of Malawi (FAM), wrote a letter to FIFA, requesting that the match should  be move to Abuja or to a neutral country, so that they will feel secured.

Reacting to the comment of the Malawi coach, Stephen Keshi, the Super Eagles coach, siad, "The Malawi coach cannot tell us where to play our matches."

"He can say whatever he likes, that's his own opinion and problem. We have no problem and he is not qualified enough to make that call or request.

"This is where we play our games and other countries are fine with that. Someone cannot say to Nigeria to take the game elsewhere because he feels too important," Keshi told BBC.

"Please tell him (Saintfiet) the game will take place in Calabar, he can choose not to come, we have no problem with that," Keshi concluded.

FIFA has already written a letter to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF),
to submit to them a security guarantee and detailed security plans from the
authority responsible for doing so.

The Inspector General of Police in Nigeria, Mr Mohammed Abubaka, has written a comprehensive security plan for the U. J. Esuene Stadium in Calabar. The security covers not only the stadium, but also accommodations and transportations for the two teams.

Anti-bomb squad will sweep the stadium and the hotels before the match starts. The Nigerian special mobile police force will be involved in providing security on the 7th of September for the match.

The Nigeria Football Federation released a statement, that the Inspector General of Police of Nigeria, has submitted to FIFA the detailed security plan for the match. It says that the letter guarantees, that the police, ``will provide adequate security to ensure a conducive environment before, during and after the match between Nigeria and Malawi scheduled for 7 September at the U. J. Esuene Stadium, Calabar.``