Hmmm, is that possible? It's been awhile since we played in Africa. I think the last time may have been in Morocco a few years back.
Nigeria already plays a friendly against Brazil in 6/11. If it's true it will be the first case I hear of a team playing 2 matches in 2 days.
Where? Brazil or Nigeria? It's in Nigeria.. According to FIFA 11.06.2003 - ABUJA Nigeria - Brazil Classification:F Friendly > 2003
According to a friend of mine from Port Harcourt, Nigeria: Lagos is far from being the heart of Islamic fundamentalism. Nigeria itself is split roughly 50/50 between Christianity and Islam, with the majority of the Islamic population in the north of the country in cities like Kano and Abuja. The big southern cities like Lagos and Port Harcourt are predominantly Christian.
That's why Nigeria has some problems because it is split up? Islamic fundamentalism can find its audience. BTW, it is less than a week from the first US match at the Confederation Cup? Isn't it to much to travekl from the US-to-Nigeria-to-France?
Not true hes come back from retirement already played in a game in the past year. This man is a wonder.
My friend at the Nigerian Ministry of Sport can arrange for any BigSoccer member to attend this game. Please send me a signed blank check so that the Nigerian government can determine whether your intentions are sincere.
Scam Artists Yeah, it is funny, but sadly true since some people have been duped by the multitude of scams that originate over the Internet from Nigeria. Ever get the one where they just need you to claim someone's estate and then they will give you a percentage? I wrote the guy back and played along and then asked him when I was "supposedly" getting ready to send a check if he really thought I or anyone would be that stupid. The guy never replied.
Man, I just can't see this one. For the US because of its proximity to the CC and for Nigeria because they play Brazil the day before. And I just can't see the US going to a place like Nigeria right now due to recent events in Nigeria and in the world (no, I'm not biased--I liove the people, my father was born there, but...). I'll believe it when I see the kickoff. Not before.
My West African friend told me Lagos is not the kind of place you want to go. He said people walk up to you in broad day light and tell you that they're going to rob you and there's nothing anyone can do about it. The cops are very corrupt. Lots of crime. He said his mother, who worked for the embassies in Ghana and Cote d'Ivoire, once had to go to a hospital outside Lagos. When driving through Lagos, she had to have a military escort. It's not the type of place we want to visit.
Yeah, I agree. The Miss Universe pageant schedule there was such a disaster. Now, that was a direct affront to Islamic values, and a soccer match isn't, but it's still bringing the Infidel Empire within striking distance of some pretty hard-core fundamentalists. I'd be pretty scared.
I haven't checked to verify if this scheduling is for real, but if it is, it is a major risk that the USSF is taking. It's not the percentage breakdown by religion of the population that matters here. It's the fact that both christians and muslims have been going at each other pretty heavily now so the religious strife is definitely there. When you combine that with high crime, general government ineptitude, and relatively frequent terrorist activity in other african states you have a setting that is far from safe. Too many elements point to this being very needless risk. This is an old advisory but it will give you some background: http://travel.state.gov/nigeria_warning.html
Lagos is not the heart of Islamic fundamentalism, but Nigeria does have a sizeable muslim minority population. Like many countries in central Africa, the nation is more or less split North and South. Lagos is in the South along the coast. Still, it is a very dangerous city with a high crime rate and large amounts of corruption. There are also constant labor struggles, particularly in the oil sector (Nigeria is one of the most important nations that the U.S imports oil from). Still, a soccer match would probably be fine there. As for diplomatic personnel , we do have to be careful, but then we do everywhere we work. As official Americans (or other nations as well) we attract more attention and we also usually have more financially than the local population. Anyway, I thought I would just chime in and if it is true I will have to inform some of my colleagues who work in the Embassy there that maybe a visit is in order.