And they will have a dress rehearsal for the FA Community Shield clash with a match against Premier League Champions Manchester United there.

Last summer Pompey went to Hong Kong, rather than compete for a place in Europe in the Intertoto Cup, and won the Barclays Asia Trophy by beating Liverpool on penalties in the final of a multi-million pounds tournament which included Fulham and the champions of Hong Kong.

No dates have officially been announced but it will mean a homecoming for Pompey stars Kanu, who scored the Wembley winner, and John Utaka, whose cross set up the goal.

Yet Redknapp has admitted news of the trip might not go down well with all his players, who were cheered by an estimated 200,000 fans on an open-top bus tour of the city.

He said: 'I haven't told them yet but we will be going to Nigeria pre-season.

'I don't know if it's going to be a pleasant surprise for them but I think everybody enjoyed Hong Kong last year.

'We are going to play Manchester United out there (Nigeria). Apparently they want us out there and the thinking was that if it is good for Manchester United then it's certainly good for us.

'Then we come back and play United again at Wembley in the Community Shield and we're looking forward to that - but personally my only plan is for a holiday with my wife.

'I don't think I'll be going to the European Championship this time but there are some interesting matches and maybe I'll take in one or two.'