The Nigeria Football Federation has now received information from the Senegalese Football Federation to the effect that the delegation of AS Academie Generation Foot to a CAF Confederation Cup match in Abuja will arrive on Friday morning.
Generation Foot, a lower division team in Senegal that upset the formbook to win the country’s FA Cup, clash with Nigeria’s CAF Confederation Cup flagbeares Nasarawa United at the National Stadium, Abuja in a first round, first leg match.
The Senegalese Football Federation also confirmed that Generation Foot have elected the option of taking care of themselves while in Nigeria, with the implication that the Solid Miners will also take care of their stay in Dakar in the return leg.
While Generation Foot are campaigning on the continent for the first time, Nasarawa United played in the CAF Confederation Cup in 2007 after crashing out of the more lucrative CAF Champions League.
On Thursday, Nasarawa United FC chairman, Barr. Isaac Danladi, told thenff.com that his boys are in great shape to earn a heartwarming win that will stand them in good stead in the return leg.
“We are not taking this campaign with levity. The Government of Nasarawa State is very keen on the team doing the nation proud, so nothing is being left to chance.
“Our commitment is to take it one match at a time. We will fight for a handsome result in Abuja on Sunday and then go and play our hearts out in Senegal.”
The winner of the fixture between Nasarawa United and Generation Foot will proceed to the second round, to battle it out with Club Sportif Constantinois of Algeria.
On Sunday, Nasarawa United coach Kabiru Suleiman Dogo will be able to call on some of the most impressive actors in Nigeria’s domestic football.
Esosa Igbinoba, who was among the top scorers of the penultimate season, is available alongside CHAN Eagles defender Samson Gbadebo, Abdulrahaman Bashir, Philip Azango, CHAN Eagles midfielder Yaro Bature, Thomas Zenke and Philip Auta.
On Friday, Nigerian champions Enyimba FC will take on Vipers of Uganda in Kampala in their CAF Champions League first round, first leg match, while Akwa United are away to Club Mokanda of Congo in the CAF Confederation Cup.
The other Nigerian team in the CAF Champions League contest, Warri Wolves, will host Praia Cruz from Sao Tome and Principe at the Warri Township Stadium on Sunday.
