Three Lions, Super Eagles match more than just a game, says British High Commissioner

The British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Paul Arkwright has described the Super Eagles international friendly match with the Three Lions as more than just a game, saying that England is taking it serious. 

England will host Nigeria on June 2 at the Wembley Stadium, London.

Speaking when the Nigeria Football Federation’s (NFF) top executive officers led by its president, Amaju Pinnick, paid him a courtesy visit yesterday in Abuja, Arkwright informed

NFF that the High Commission would organise a number of events around the match both in the United Kingdom and Nigeria.
 
“Let me also assure you that England is taking this match very serious. It is more than just a game; it is a big preparatory game towards the FIFA World Cup.

More than that, the historical ties between our two countries are there to be considered, so it will also serve to strengthen and enhance relations and good collaboration between our countries,” said Arkwright.

 
Pinnick informed Arkwright that the Nigerian High Commission in the United Kingdom was also involved in efforts to ensure the match was a huge success, coming less than two weeks before the opening match of the Russia 2018 FIFA World Cup finals.
 
“We appreciate the excellent cordial relations between our two countries and that is one of the reasons this is more than just a match. It is coming up only two weeks before Nigeria’s first match at the FIFA World Cup, and 16 days before England’s first match in Russia.
 
“Ours are two countries that have so much in common. We believe this match will go a long way in strengthening England-Nigeria relations in several areas.”

The friendly match will be Nigeria’s penultimate tune up game before flying to the World Cup finals in Russia.
 
Officially, both countries have clashed only twice previously at senior level: one competitive match and one friendly.

The friendly was on November 16, 1994 when the Three Lions pipped the Eagles 1-0 at old Wembley Stadium thanks to a first half header by David Platt.

The second time was a group phase tie at the 2002 FIFA World Cup finals in Korea/Japan, which ended 0-0 at the Nagai Stadium in Osaka.

Source: G Sport