This 16,000 all-seater stadium was recently refurbished to host the 1999 World Youth Cup.

Located in Kofar Mata district, the stadium is named after the late General Sani Abacha, fomer military ruler of Nigeria, whose home town was Kano city.

The stadium, which is also used for athletics events, is equipped with a helipad for important dignitaries, floodlights and an electronic scoreboard.

Kano is about 1,200km north of Lagos and is northern Nigeria's trading centre.

Populated by around four million people, it is a predominantly Muslim city.

The sale of alcohol is forbidden in some areas.

The local population are mostly from the Hausa ethnic group, although southerners abound, many of whom are active in commerce.

Daytime temperatures can be very high but night time is cooler.