Black Stallions open camp for Niger Republic friendly August 1

The Nigeria Rugby Football Federation (NRFF) has announced that the senior men’s national team, Black Stallions will open camp on August 1  to prepare for a friendly game with Niger Republic on August 11. The camp will feature 30 players.

The NRFF told The Guardian yesterday that the Niger Republic friendly, which is the first international game the national team would play since the international ban on the country was lifted, would help discover more talents for the team.

The body also revealed that plans had been concluded for the Nigerian team to participate in the Africa Rugby League Championship (Regional 7s) billed to hold from September 15 to 16 in Abidjan, Cote D’Ivoire .

Ten countries, including Algeria, Burkina Faso, Benin Republic, Mali, Niger Republic, Togo, Cote d’Ivoire, Sierra Leone and Nigeria would participate in the championship.

Speaking on the Niger Republic friendly, Black Stallions’ captain, Azeez Ladipo said the players were ready for battle in the warm up tie, adding that the game would lift the spirit of the players ahead of other international engagements.

“All plans to make the players get the best training ahead of the warm up tie has been put in place. The players are poised to  take part in the game after being absent from the international scene for some time,” he said.