Brazil cancels friendly match with Nigeria over Boko Haram bombings

Nigeria’s Super Eagles may have lost the chance to play football power-house Brazil in a highly anticipatedfriendly match due to the insecurity situation in the country.

The high profile friendly between Nigeria and Brazil was initially scheduled to be played during a FIFA window in September but the incessant bombings in Northern Nigeria have reportedly made the former world champions think twice about their proposed visit to Nigeria.

Brazil reportedly snubbed potentially unsafe Nigeria for the Bafana Bafana of South Africa, the match will be played either in Brazil or the USA on September 7.

The dread Islamic sect Boko Haram, who have occasionally claimed responsibility for deadly attacks in the North, have promised more violence in Nigeria.

Nigeria are looking to play a high-profile friendly as coach Stephen Keshi continue to strengthen the team ahead of their crucial qualifiers for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations and the 2014 World Cup.

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFA) however said the Nigeria versus Brazil friendly would still hold as planned. An official of the football body told Punch News that the organisers had not given up on bringing the Samba Boys to Nigeria.

“The friendly has not been cancelled; the organisers are still hopeful of sorting out a few details in order to bring the Brazilians to Nigeria. It is actually Guinness The Match arrangement and the agent that is putting the match together is confident it will hold,” the NFF official said.

The bomb and gun attacks in the north have also affected some Nigerian Premier League fixtures in the North.