FIFA Demote Aisha Buhari Cup To Mere Friendly Series

The much-advertised Aisha Buhari Cup will no longer be a tournament with a trophy at stake after world football governing body FIFA ordered that all six teams can only play two matches.

Officials said FIFA ruled that a tournament, where a team may have to play as many as four matches within a short time, cannot be staged during the international friendly window to avoid fatigue and injuries.

This has seriously called to question the capacity of those behind this invitational tournament.

It has further robbed the shine away from the tournament, whose headline name and Nigerian First Lady Aisha Buhari will also give it a miss.

The proposed tournament will now be a series of friendlies with each team playing only two games within the window between September 15 and 21.

The Super Falcons, who are without several of their overseas-based stars, will as a result play the opening match this afternoon against Mali.

Their other game will be against South Africa on September 21.

All matches will now be played at the Mobolaji Johnson Stadium, previously known as the Onikan Stadium in Lagos.