For the first time in the history of Nigeria’s participation in the World Cup, the team coach has been given a free hand to determine where his charges will make their home at next year’s event.
"(Stephen) Keshi is presently inspecting a number of possible campsin the South American nation, and specifically around Sao Paulo," Olajire said.
Stephen Keshi, who captained Nigeria in their first appearance at the showpiece in USA in 1994, said he cherished the opportunity afforded to him by the Aminu Maigari administration and would always strive for the best for the Super Eagles.
"I am happy to have been given the free hand to select the team base camp," Keshi said. "You may think it is a small gesture but not every head coach has that privilege. I am certainly going to use the opportunity to select the best for our team."
Keshi’s African champions will contend with two-time world champions Argentina, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Iran in Group F.
Most of the 32 participating member associations are also looking around Sao Paulo for their team base camp. A total of 83 locations were offered by the hosts.
A team base camp includes a hotel and training site. All participating member associations must confirm where they will want to be based before the end of next month.
All teams must report to their team base camp at least five days before their first match of the tournament. In the case of Nigeria, that means no later than 11th June, five days before the Super Eagles clash with Iran at the 41,000-seater Arena da Baixada in Curitiba – a city of 1.7million people in the south of Brazil.
The Eagles will then tackle Bosnia-Herzegovina at the 42,000- seater Arena Pantanal in Cuiaba, a city of approximately 550,000 people in the centre west, on 21 June, before flying to the south again to play Argentina in what is Group F’s most anticipated game.
That match comes up at the 48,000-seater Estadio Beira-Rio in Porto Alegre, a city of over 1.4million people, on 25 June.
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