Rift between Morocco and Nigeria overshadows African Olympic qualifiers

By David Gold

November 24 – The African Olympic football qualifying tournament gets underway in Morocco this weekend, but a row between the hosts and Nigeria is overshadowing the build up to the event.

The Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) general secretary Musa Amadu (pictured) has accused their hosts of reneging on an agreement to allow their team to use facilities in Casablanca to prepare for the tournament.

Atlanta 1996 Olympic gold medallists Nigeria had originally bid with Egypt for the right to stage the tournament only to lose out in that particular battle, before the North Africans had to give up their hosting rights due to ongoing violence in the country.

They then missed out for a second time when hosting rights were given by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to Morocco, despite having been invited to bid to stage the tournament again.

“We are shocked by their [the Moroccan FA] attitude,” Amadu said.

“Before the team left Nigeria, we made contact with the right persons at the Moroccan FA and they assured us the team would be allowed to use some facilities in its final preparation for the competition.

“However, it is unfortunate that our team is being denied access to training facilities, and those who have been shutting our team out keep saying they are acting on the instructions of the Moroccan FA.

“We are in touch with them and we believe things will get better.

“I would like to also add that our team in undeterred.

“They are looking forward to the opening match of the tournament against the Moroccan team on Saturday and the attitude of the FA there is now an added motivation for our boys to go all out.”

Nigeria face Morocco in the opening game of the under-23 tournament on Saturday (November 26) at the Tangiers Stadium.

Contact the writer of this story at zib.l1734800562labto1734800562ofdlr1734800562owedi1734800562sni@d1734800562log.d1734800562ivad1734800562