By Jacob Ajom
The Nigeria Football Federation has explained that its decision to host the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier between the Super Eagles and their Ethiopian counterparts at the Abuja national stadium was informed by coach Samson Siasia’s insistence that the encounter be played on natural turf.

In a telephone chat with our correspondent Sunday, chairman of the NFF technical committee, Barrister Christopher Green said, “the Abuja national stadium will be hosting the match which comes up on March 27 because coach Samson Siasia personally insisted that the match be played on natural grass. Most of the players based in Europe play on natural grass week in week out and they too spoke in favour of natural Abuja turf so we had no option than to take the match to Abuja.”

Green however said since Nigeria now boast of numerous artificial turfs, “in future, the players would have to be invited early so as to have enough time to train on artificial turf before match days.”

He said the decision had nothing to do with the attitude of Lagos fans who boo the Eagles when they are not playing well. “Not at all,” he quipped, stressing, “it is the turf.”

He said the NFF had no reason to stand in the way of the coach as they had sworn to give him all the support to achieve results. He said that the football house was doing everything possible to ensure the Eagles excelled in the encounter as Nigeria was still trailing Guinea in the group.

The technical committee boss said the coach was yet to submit a list of players for the all-important match but was sure Siasia already knew his players.

“We are yet to get a list from the coach but the match is still three weeks away. We are on track, Green said.