NFF lines up friendlies against Tunisia, Cote d’Ivoire in Austria

Nigeria’s Super Eagles would face the Carthage Eagles of Tunisia in an international friendly, the latter’s Football Federation announced on Wednesday ahead of the resumption of the 2022 AFCON qualifiers.

The friendly scheduled for October 13 in Austria was further confirmed hours later by the President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Amaju Pinnick on the NFF Twitter handle.

Pinnick, said the Eagles will take on Cote d’Ivoire on 9th October before facing Tunisia four days later.

“On the 9th of October, the Super Eagles will play former African champions, Cote D’Ivoire in a friendly game, then face another African giant and former champions Tunisia, four days later, on the 13th.

“Both games will be held in Austria for a few obvious reasons. Due to the COVID-19 protocols presently in place and the proximity of the bulk of our team as well, Austria was seen as an ideal venue.

“I’ll have to stress as well, that ALL costs will be borne by the Football Federations of both Nigeria and Cote d’Ivoire, as well as Tunisia,” he said.

Before flying to Austria, Tunisia who finished fourth behind Nigeria at the last AFCON in Egypt last year would square up against Sudan at the Hamadi Agrebi Olympic Stadium in Rades in Tunis on October 9 also in a friendly.

They are drawn in Group J against Libya, Equatorial Guinea, and Tanzania whom they face in the first leg in November before traveling to Dar-es-Salaam for the return match.

The qualifiers of AfCON 2021 was postponed to 2022 last March due to the coronavirus pandemic.

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The Super Eagles of Nigeria lead Group L-which has Benin Republic, Lesotho, and Sierra Leone after two games. and would host the latter on November 9, while the reverse fixture will take place on Tuesday, November 17.