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Eagles to play more friendlies in USA, Pinnick kicks against transfers to Cyprus, China

THE Super Eagles will return to the United States of America for more friendly matches in October, Nigeria Football Federation President Amaju Pinnick has promised.

The Nigerian senior team, made up of home-based players, lost 4-0 to Mexico in a friendly in Los Angeles on Sunday morning.

Despite the defeat, they will get more of such fixtures against quality opposition, Pinnick assured them.

The NFF had signed an agreement to collaborate with the State of Maryland last week, which included the staging of friendly matches for Nigeria’s national teams in the US state.

“This is the launch pad we are providing for you to showcase your talents,” Pinnick told the Super Eagles players.

“This team is our pride and we will keep you and monitor you because you are the next big thing in Nigerian football.

“In October, we will be flying the team to Baltimore for friendly games against Ghana, possibly Cameroon and Canada. We will sort that out in the coming weeks.

“We will tidy up all the documentations and you will be playing at the 73,000-capacity M&T Bank Stadium.”

Meanwhile, Pinnick, who is also a member of the FIFA Council, has threatened to prevent Nigerian players from moving from the Nigeria Professional Football League to low-level leagues in Europe and Asia.

“We don’t want to hear you join teams in Cyprus, China or Belarus,” he said.

“We won’t issue an ITC (International Transfer Certificate) to you and I’m going to instruct the General Secretary of the federation. You are the pride of the nation now.

“We want to see you join proud footballing clubs in Europe like Villarreal, Lille, Valencia and the likes.”

Players need the ITC from their home football associations to complete transfers to foreign leagues.

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Naija Times