By Harry Awurumibe, Editor Abuja Bureau
The much anticipated Lagos Six-Nation Invitational Tournament earlier scheduled to start on September 13 will now begin two days later just as the competition has been redesignated by FIFA as friendly matches.
It was gathered that the world football governing body, FIFA has advised the organizers of the Lagos football event to perish the idea of making it a tournament.
This is because September 13 to 21 dates slated for the football fiesta fall on 2021 FIFA Women’s Football Window Type 1 which allows only two matches to be played by any national team during the break.
According to our reliable sources, FIFA can allow teams to play only two matches during the period proposed by the organizers of the Lagos football competition even as they have been told not to call it a tournament but friendly matches.
Also, the organizers will not be allowed to present trophies to the winners in any category during the friendly matches in order not to draw the wrath of FIFA.
Sequel to the new development, the organizers have been forced to readjust the match fixtures with the first match now billed for Wednesday, September 15, 2021. It will feature Nigeria against Mali at Venue 1.
Nigeria’s Super Falcons will also tackle the Banyana Banyana of South Africa in the second and last match on Tuesday, September 21 at venue 1.
The organizers are yet to confirm the two Lagos state stadia to be used for the competition, although they listed them as Venue 1 and Venue 2.
- Full Fixtures of 2021 Lagos Invitational Friendly Matches:
*Match Day 1-Sept. 15- Nigeria vs Mali, Venue 1
*Match Day 2- Sept.16- Cameroon vs Morocco, Venue 2
*Match Day 3-Sept. 17- South Africa vs Ghana, Venue 1
*** Rest Day-September 18
*Match Day 4- Sept.19 – Morocco vs Mali, Venue 2
*Match Day 5- Sept. 20, Cameroon vs Ghana, Venue-1
*Match Day 6-Sept. 21- Nigeria vs South Africa, Venue 1.
