The Nigeria Football Association (NFA) on Saturday said it has signed an agreement with the South African Football Association (SAFA) for the Super Eagles to play Bafana Bafana in the annual Nelson Mandela Challenge.
This is contained in a statement signed by NFA’s Assistant Director, Media, Ademola Olajire, and made available to newsmen in Lagos.
It said the Grade ‘A’ match, which honoured one of the greatest statesmen the world has ever produced, Nelson Mandela, would take place on Aug. 14 at the Moses Mabhida Stadium, Durban.
The statement quoted the NFA President, Aminu Maigari, as saying: “We have signed the contract. We feel delighted to have the opportunity to accord honour to one of the great sons of Africa. Nelson Mandela deserves this honour.
“The NFA will present Nigeria’s ‘A’ team and SAFA will do the same. It promises to be a memorable encounter.
“It will take place at the Moses Mabhida Stadium, where the Super Eagles beat Mali 4-1 in one of the semi final matches of the 29th Africa Cup of Nations.”
It also quoted SAFA President, Kirsten Nematandani,as saying: “It is a great honour for us to be associated with such a huge and significant, and also highly important project for our former state president.
“When we got the invite to be part of this venture, we did not hesitate as Madiba has made a selfless sacrifice for the nation.
“We are obviously mindful of the fact that the former President is not well in hospital. We can only wish him all the best for him to come out and be among us, so that he can continue to inspire us as he has done for many years.
“This event shows that no one can unite the country quite like he has, and we are proud to be taking part,” Nematandani said.
The statement said that apart from the clash with the Super Eagles, the Bafana Bafana would also play Burkina Faso, at the FNB Stadium in Soweto on Aug.17.
Anti-apartheid activist, Mandela, spent 27 years in jail before being freed in 1990, and four years later became South Africa’s President.
