Why Were 2026 World Cup Qualifiers Not Scheduled in Nigeria’s South East?

We know Nigeria missed out on the last World Cup qualifiers. Yet it’s surprising that none of the 2026 qualifying matches will take place in the South East. Enugu, Dan Anyiam Owerri, and Enyimba stadiums have all hosted top-level fixtures before, including U21 World Cup and CAF competitions. Why then are matches being held in the North and South West—even in areas with security risks—while South East venues are overlooked?

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