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By Paul Bassey One of the reasons why some of us came to Abidjan was to see how we could use our presence, connections and authority to diffuse what was expected to be a “major football war.” The Nigerian press as vibrant as ever was in the middle of a build up that threatened even the travel plans of the Nigerian team. First were series of quotes alleging that the Ivoriens were so bitter about their treatment in Kaduna that they were ready to pay the Nigerians back in their own coins.(?) Then came the allegations (Press) that the Nigerians compromised the referees and that they were ready to do the same to guarantee victory. [caption id="attachment_406372" align="alignright" width="412"] IVORY COAST, Abidjan : Ivory Coast's forward Koelly Kevin Zougoula (R) vies for the ball with Nigeria's goalkeeper Chigozie Agbim (C) and Solomon Kwambe (L) during the 2014 African Nations Championship (CHAN) qualifying football match between Ivory Coast and Nige...

BY JACOB AJOM The senior national team, the Super Eagles will jet out this morning to Ivory Coast economic and commercial city of Abidjan to keep a date with the Ivory Coast national team, the Elephants in the reverse leg of the African Nations Championship coming up this weekend. The Nigerians are carrying a 4-1 goal advantage from the first leg played in Kaduna, July 6. Coach Stephen Keshi is taking a strong squad to the West African nation but will miss the services of lethal striker, Gambo Mohammed of Kano Pillars who could not travel due to injury. Gambo opened scoring in the first leg. Another injured striker, Haruna Babalo of  El Kanemi Warriors was also dropped. [caption id="attachment_402461" align="alignnone" width="412"] FIRING POWER... Super Eagles attacking midfielder, Sunday Mba puts Ivorian players in the firing range as he scored a brace in yesterday’s CAF African Nations Championship qualifier at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium Kaduna.[/caption]...

The Super Eagles of Nigeria are expected to jet out for Abidjan on Thursday through the Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Lagos, team scribe, Dayo Enebi Achor has confirmed. The Eagles will be tak ing on the Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire on Saturday in the return leg of the African Nations Championship, CHAN. The Eagles have a 4-1 advantage from the first leg played in Kaduna penultimate Saturday. “All logistics have been perfected by the NFF leadership, he said, adding, “hopefully, by Thursday the team should be off to Abidjan to complete the process of qualifying for the first time for CHAN after two near misses”, he said. [caption id="attachment_404858" align="alignnone" width="412"] Ready for Abidjan Showdown … [/caption] Meanwhile, the team will from today alter their training schedule to evening time to coincide with the time the CHAN qualifier final round qualifier game will be played on Saturday in Abidjan, Head Coach Stephen Keshi has direct...