Nigeria to lose U-17 World Cup

[Zeppo]

FIFA puts Nigeria on notice

It looks like Nigeria will lose the Under-17 World Cup, which it is scheduled to host in the fall.

Following an inspection tour, Concacaf president Jack Warner, who serves as chairman of the U-17 organizing committee, said he would give local organizers a month to get all nine prospective venues ready.

Only two of the nine venues -- stadiums in Abuja and Lagos -- passed inspection.

Three other venues were dropped from consideration -- Bauchi and Kaduna, along with the stadium in Warri, which Warner's delegation could not visit because of security concerns in the Delta State region -- meaning that the four remaining venues -- Calabar, Enugu, Ijebu-Ode and Kano -- must pass muster.

"When the grace period expires, FIFA will return to visit the venues and if each and every one of them does not reach the 100 percent readiness level that we expect, then FIFA will withdraw the tournament hosting rights from Nigeria and go to another country," Warner said. "Frankly, from an objective point of view, Nigeria is not ready to host the tournament."

http://www.socceramerica.com/index.c...&art_aid=32424

[Zeppo]

FIFA gives Nigeria additional 2 weeks

The world football governing body, FIFA, has given Nigeria additional two weeks to enable the country prepare fully for the hosting of the FIFA U-17 tournament slated for October/November this year.

Report reaching here from Abuja Saturday morning said the Vice President of FIFA, Jack Warner, made this known to newsmen shortly after a closed door meeting between Vice President, Goodluck Jonathan, and a 4-man FIFA delegation led by Isah Hayatou.

He said the FIFA final inspection team would now be re-visiting Nigeria on July 26 and July 27 as against July 5 and July 9 as earlier planned.

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[Hortical]

Maybe T&T can host another U-17 tourney, and dem have the stadiums for it.

[Peter R]

Well, I just want to wish Mr. Jonathan good luck.

[Zeppo]

Nigerian rebels threaten FIFA junior World Cup

Armed militants in Nigeria's Niger Delta on Monday claimed more attacks against facilities run by US oil giant Chevron and warned FIFA against letting the country host the under-17 World Cup tournament.

The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) in an email statement also threatened to extend its operations beyond Delta State to others in the oil-rich southern region.

MEND said they had started a massive fire that destroyed the Abiteye flow station and blew up two other Chevron facilities there early on Monday.

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[Hortical]

I have a brethren from the Delta region and he supports the armed struggle. The Delta region has most of the country's oil reserves, but the residents do not see any benefits from the massive oil wealth.

Nigerian Oil Delta Poverty