Arsenal Football FC has cancelled the widely publicized pre-season friendly with the Super Eagles of Nigeria slated for Abuja on Saturday August 5 , citing logistics problem.
The London Club enjoys a wide followership in Nigeria, its teeming and loyal Nigerian fans are going to disappointed by this decision. Most were already preparing to travel for far and near states to Abuja to their famous premier league star live in action with tha Nigerian national team.
A report however says that the club is making a long term plan to visit Nigeria in the summer of 2013.
The Club on its website said it took the decision as a result of complexities linked to the planned game against Nigeria.
Arsenal marketing director Angus Kinnear said: “Bringing a top-level club to an international market is always complicated and logistically challenging. With the proposed match in Nigeria planned for early August, we could not get comfortable on everything needed to satisfy our requirements, so we have reluctantly taken the decision to postpone the team’s visit.”
Kinnear continued: “We have a huge and loyal following in Africa, and we are sorry that the team will not be visiting this summer. However, we have a long-term commitment to Nigeria and we are already making plans for a visit next summer.
The club’s sponsor, Emirates Airlines, also commented, stating through the club’s official website: “Emirates shares Arsenal’s disappointment that the team’s visit to Nigeria has been postponed.
“We look forward to working with Arsenal to bring the club closer to its loyal Nigerian fans through new initiatives over the coming months.”