Kaduna’s 35 degrees heat to play major part in crucial Nigeria-Egypt encounter

goal.com

The Super Eagles with a bulk of players based in Europe will face the added challenge of hot weather in Friday’s game against the Pharaohs.

There was soothing rain in Kaduna on Thursday evening promising to make Friday a cool day for good football. According to AccuWeather.com, Friday’s weather in Kaduna will peak at 35 degrees Celsius.

Nigeria coach Samson Siasia has been worried about the heat in the northern city that usually climbs to 37 degrees by midday and around 34 degrees later.

“One thing we have to worry about is the heat,” said Siasia ahead of the game. “We need to make sure we run less and conserve our energy.”

The Pharaohs, who only arrived on Wednesday night, might suffer more from the heat as Cairo regularly sees average highs of 26 degrees Celsius.

“Sports persons are at risk of a range of heat disorders especially at this time of the year in Nigeria with daily temperatures rising to as high as 37 degrees Celsius or more,” Yetunde Tagurum, a consultant community physician at the University of Jos told Goal.

“These heat disorders can be mild like heat cramps and heat exhaustion (due to excessive sweating) or more severe forms like heat syncope and heat stroke where in addition to loss of body fluids, core body temperature can rise to 41 degrees.

“Prevention is mainly through acclimatization training and taking of plenty fluids,” she said.

Both sides would have to ensure that there’s abundance of water for the players to cool themselves at every opportunity of the exciting encounter.