UPDATE: Ibadan agog ahead Nigeria, Tanzania clash

Ticket prices have been fixed ahead of the U-23 AFCON qualifying second leg game between Nigeria and Tanzania, which will be played at the Lekan Salami Stadium, Adamasingba, Ibadan on Saturday.

Fans will pay N1,000 for regular tickets and N3,000 for the VIP tickets to watch the Olympic Eagles take on the young Taifa Stars, as Oyo State hosts a national team game for the first time in decades.

The tickets will be on sale on Saturday between 12 and 2pm at the Ibadan Recreation Club pool side, while the match is slated for 4pm.

Meanwhile, the Oyo State Government has also commenced support mobilisation ahead of the game.

Commissioner for Youths and Sports in the state, Seun Fakorede, charged football-loving citizens in Oyo and neighbouring states to come out and give the U-23 Olympic team the much-needed support, noting that the Lekan Salami Stadium was in good shape to host the game and subsequent international matches.

“We, therefore, call on all football-loving Ibadan fans to come en mass to witness the epoch-making event and give our darling U-23 Olympic team overwhelming and a rousing support to victory. This administration has far achieved the unprecedented remodeling of the stadium to an enviable world-class standard,” Fakorede said.

He added that adequate security had been put in place for a rancour-free match, while accreditation would be handled by the state FA in conjunction with the Nigeria Football Federation.

The commissioner said the state would also host the second leg of the U-23 team against Costa Rica in November, saying the first leg will be held in the US.

Chairman, Oyo State FA, Oba James Odeniran, commended the commissioner for creating an enabling environment for the CAF delegation, which accredited the stadium for international matches.

“We are looking beyond the hosting of this first international match. Our efforts and performance would help sustain further patronage of this stadium,” Oba Odeniran said.

The first leg of the encounter ended 1-1 in Dar es Salaam last Saturday.

Nigeria must beat Tanzania on Saturday or at least secure a goalless draw to move into the next round of the qualifiers.