Nigeria, Japan's planned opponent in next month's Kirin Cup soccer, has decided not to visit Japan due to the spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), the official Xinhua News Agency reported Wednesday.
An official close to the nation's Sports and Social Development minister said, "We have advised our sports bodies, including the soccer association, against traveling near Asia at this stage," according to the report.
It was only last week that Nigeria was picked to replace Portugal in a June 11 match against Japan at Saitama Stadium.