EXCLUSIVE By David Meshioye:
The Egyptian Football Association could be on a collision course with their Nigerian counterparts over the date for the return leg of the crucial Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers billed for Alexandria.
A Completesportsnigeria.com source in Cairo exclusively revealed that the EFA have written to CAF demanding that the return leg be moved to a better date.
The Egyptians have no problems with the proposed shift of the first leg in Kaduna from 23 March to 26 March as it
would allow Zamalek FC and Al Ahly players to observe enough rest after their CAF Champions League engagements on 19 March.
But EFA officials have petitioned the Confederation of African Football to have the return leg date changed, citing fatigue and jetlag as reasons behind their request, saying three days is too short to enable their players prepare for the return leg as hosts.
“The Egypt FA officials have written to CAF asking for a better day for the return leg in Alexandria," Completesportsnigeria.com source said.
“Our FA were happy that the first leg has been moved forward since Zamalek and Al Ahly which will supply 20 players to the national team for the clash will be playing in the CAF Champions League on 19 March.
“But they want the return leg date changed because they feel three days is too short to play match of such magnitude. They now want CAF to decide on a better date for the return leg.”
The two legs were initially billed for 23 March and 27 March, but Nigeria proposed new dates of 26 March and 29 March since most of their Europe-based players will not arrive until 20 March for preparations.
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