Nelspruit guarantees total support for Eagles
Flying Eagles battled South African counterparts in Nelspruit in September
Eagles could have won in '96
Super Eagles
will be home in Nelspruit at next year’s AFCON because of the big Nigerian
community there and its nearness to Johannesburg.
The Eagles are drawn in Group C along with defending champions Zambia, Burkina Faso and Ethiopia in Nelspruit, which is in the northeast of South Africa and the country’s fruit basket.
The Eagles trained there to prepare for a crucial 2010 World Cup qualifier in Mozambique and in September, the country’s U20 team, the Flying Eagles, drew 1-1 with host team Amajita of South Africa in a 2013 AYC qualifier.
The Nigerian fans at the magnificent Mbombela Stadium, one of the 2010 World Cup venues, outnumbered and out sang their South African counterparts during the Flying Eagles match.
It is very much within reach of Johannesburg, where over a million Nigerians are based. It is about 35 minutes by air from Johannesburg to Nelspruit and less than four hours by bus.
"The Eagles will really be at home in Nelspruit as only Johannesburg has more Nigerians in South Africa. They will therefore enjoy the massive support of the Nigerians who are there,” said Nigerian Mohammed Lawal, who is football agent based in Johannesburg.
“Also, Nelspruit is not far even by road from Johannesburg and so the support for the Eagles will be total.
“The Eagles could therefore top their group and progress to the quarterfinals, if they take all the teams in the group seriously.”
The Eagles are drawn in Group C along with defending champions Zambia, Burkina Faso and Ethiopia in Nelspruit, which is in the northeast of South Africa and the country’s fruit basket.
The Eagles trained there to prepare for a crucial 2010 World Cup qualifier in Mozambique and in September, the country’s U20 team, the Flying Eagles, drew 1-1 with host team Amajita of South Africa in a 2013 AYC qualifier.
The Nigerian fans at the magnificent Mbombela Stadium, one of the 2010 World Cup venues, outnumbered and out sang their South African counterparts during the Flying Eagles match.
It is very much within reach of Johannesburg, where over a million Nigerians are based. It is about 35 minutes by air from Johannesburg to Nelspruit and less than four hours by bus.
"The Eagles will really be at home in Nelspruit as only Johannesburg has more Nigerians in South Africa. They will therefore enjoy the massive support of the Nigerians who are there,” said Nigerian Mohammed Lawal, who is football agent based in Johannesburg.
“Also, Nelspruit is not far even by road from Johannesburg and so the support for the Eagles will be total.
“The Eagles could therefore top their group and progress to the quarterfinals, if they take all the teams in the group seriously.”
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