The newly refurbished Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City will host the Super Eagles’ opening 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifier Nigeria Football Federation President Amaju Pinnick has revealed.

Pinnick who revealed this in a chat with Brila FM said a delegation of FIFA inspectors will visit the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in February to ascertain its suitability to host the World Cup qualifiers.

Having had a feel of the stadium where he led a team of NFF players against an Edo State XI featuring Deputy Governor Philip Shuaibu, the Delta born football administrator who is also a member of FIFA’s Competition Committee expressed confidence that the stadium would pass in flying colours.

“You cannot talk about Nigerian football without talking about Edo,” the NFF president told the station.

“At a point in time, you have to find Premier League clubs like Flash Flamingoes, Bendel United, Bendel Insurance.

“All these clubs were in Benin and they paraded most of the Super Eagles players so football is coming home and that’s why we are bringing the first World Cup qualifying match to Benin City.”

Nigeria last held a game at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in 2011 when the Super Eagles faced Botswana in an international friendly. 

Nigeria’s group opponents for the 2022 World Cup qualifiers will be revealed in January 21, 2020, when the draws are held at the CAF headquarters in Cairo.

The Super Eagles have would be looking to make a seventh appearance at the global football fiesta in Qatar following appearances at USA 1994, France 1998, Japan/Korea 2002, South Africa 2010,Brazil 2014 and Russia 2018.

Five countries will qualify to represent Africa at the tournament.