Super Eagles
The Nigeria Football Federation has said Calabar will host the Super Eagles 2014 World Cup and 2013 Africa Cup of Nations’ home qualifiers in June.
Security concerns meant the games had to be switched from Kaduna.
The NFF inspected several grounds before settling for the UJ Esuene Stadium in Calabar for the matches.
“The NFF president inspected facilities in Calabar and it was deemed perfect for the qualifiers,” NFF spokesman Ademola Olajire told BBC Sport.
“A lot of things were considered and Calabar present the best of what the matches require,” Olajire added.
“We are confident the team will not lack support from the fans but we thank the government of the state for their support.”
Nigeria host Namibia in a World Cup qualifier on the first weekend in June and then Rwanda in the second leg of a Nations Cup tie three weeks later.
The Super Eagles’ traditional home venue, the Abuja national stadium, is in a poor condition, with one official quoted as saying it would require about US$500,000 to fix.
And the NFF president Aminu Maigari admitted it would have been impossible to get the ground ready before June.
“Although work has started on the pitch of the National Stadium, Abuja it won’t be ready to host the matches,” Maigari said.
“Fifa wants us to confirm a venue by Friday so we have chosen Calabar.”
Kaduna had been earmarked to host the games but a bombing over Easter which killed more than 30 people and another blast at a newspaper’s offices two weeks ago ruled the city out.
