Nigeria opt out of Ghana friendly

By Oluwashina Okeleji
BBC Sport, Lagos

The Super Eagles have played since February

Nigeria have cancelled a friendly with Ghana, scheduled for 15 August in London.

Amos Adamu, a director in Nigeria's sports ministry, said they would be unable to raise a team for the game.

"I had a meeting with coach Austin Eguavoen and he told me he was not aware of the game in London," Adamu told BBC Sport.

"The sports ministry is also unaware of the game.

"Besides, it is rather too late to start preparing for a game that is just three weeks away.

"For now, the attention of the football family is on organising successful board elections for the Nigeria FA in August."

The match had been arranged by the previous NFA board led by Ibrahim Galadima, which was voted out of office at an extra-ordinary congress in Abuja last Tuesday.

Nigeria, which placed third at the last African Cup of Nations finals, have not played a game since February.

Ghana, which will be hosting the next Cup of Nations finals, have no competitive games until 2008.

Both teams last met during the group stages of the 2006 Nations Cup, with Nigeria winning 1-0.