The Godswill Akpabio Stadium, also known as Nest of Champions in Uyo, Akwa-Ibom state, Nigeria will host the 2022 final of the TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup, www.aclsports.com reports.
Africa’s football governing body CAF on Wednesday confirmed that the Nigerian city of Uyo has been successful with its bid to host the grand finale of Africa’s second football club competition.
The final has been scheduled for Friday, May 20, 2022 at the 30,000 capacity stadium in Southern Nigeria.
OFFICIAL: CAF has today announced that Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo, Nigeria will host the 2021/22 TotalEnergies Confederation Cup final on Friday, 20 May 2022.
— Fisayo Dairo (@FisayoDairo) May 11, 2022
Former Akwa United defender Olisa Ndah could be in the final with Orlando Pirates. pic.twitter.com/4in1y7WiEX
Initial speculations
After an inspection by a CAF official on April 4, 2022, speculations became rife in the Nigerian media on which final among the two (Champions League and Confederation Cup) will be hosted by the facility and when.
At a point, the decision of the continental governing body was pre-empted in some sections of the media, claiming that the Champions League final will be staged in the land of the Promise Keepers.
All these have now been laid to rest as the hosting city now has nine days to prepare for the staging of the final.
Who will face who?
As at now, the finalists are yet unknown as the second leg of the semi final ties will hold this Sunday, five days before the final in Uyo.
As it stands, Orlando Pirates of South Africa seem to have an edge as they take a 2-0 advantage into the home leg of their semi-final tie against Al Ahli Tripoli of Libya. Should they avoid a catastrophe, Pirates will be in Uyo with their Nigerian defender Olisa Ndah whom this time last year was still playing his home games at the Nest of Champions.
The other semi-final tie hangs in the balance. Morocco’s RS Berkane will host Congolese giants TP Mazembe in the second leg in Berkane with Mazembe holding a slender 1-0 advantage from the first leg last Sunday.
