The 2017 Africa Cup of Nations Day 3 qualifying match between the Super Eagles of Nigeria and the Pharaohs of Egypt will now take place at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium, Kaduna on Friday, March 25.
Media Officer of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Ademola Olajire said the decision was made following a mail sent to the NFF by the Confederation of African Football on Wednesday that Nigeria should endeavor to make room for “a minimum of two full days of rest between the two matches.”
He said although CAF had given Nigeria the latitude to pick any day between 23rd – 26th March for the Day 3 clash, and handed Egypt the option of picking any day from 26th – 29th for the Day 4 encounter, the continental body appealed to the NFF to pick a new date that would ensure two full days of rest ahead of the second match.
Olajire quoted the NFF General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi has saying on Thursday: “We have now moved the match forward by 24 hours, so we will play on Friday, March 25 and Saturday, March 26 will serve as the day for the two teams to travel, while March 27 and 28 will be rest days before the return leg on Tuesday, March 29.”