NFF officials warn fans not to come to Kaduna stadium with weapons for Egypt game

NIGERIAN Football Federation (NFF) officials have appealed to spectators coming to the Ahmadu Bello Stadium tomorrow not to bring weapons along with them as security agents will deal firmly with anyone who does.

 

In the first leg of an African Nations Cup qualification tie, the Super Eagles face the Pharaohs of Egypt tomorrow at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium in Kaduna. On the 29th, the second leg will take place in Alexandra and hopes are high that Nigeria will do well in both legs but NFF general secretary, Dr Mohammed Sanusi, has appealed to fans not to come to the stadium with arm weapon.

 

Dr Sanusi said: “We are especially appealing to our football fans not to come with any item that might be seen as a weapon because security will be very tight. We also appeal passionately to the fans to co-operate fully with the security agents to make for hitch-free entry into the venue.

 

“Similarly, we are appealing to the fans to come to the stadium wearing green and white colours. We want the venue proudly adorned in our national colours.”

 

Earlier this week, hundreds of fans mobbed Eagles stars Mikel Obi, Ahmed Musa and Efe Ambrose after Tuesday’s evening training in Kaduna. Celtic defender Ambrose was returning to the city when he was born and where he went on to captain the city’s biggest club, Kaduna United.

 

NFF officials expect the 20,000-capacity Ahmadu Bello Stadium to be full tomorrow with the highest gate fee being N1,000, which is less than $3. Super Eagles and  Ifeanyi Ubah Football Club right back, Chibuzor Okonkwo has asked the fans not to entertain any assuring them that the team would do the nation proud by beating the Egyptians comprehensively.

 

Okonkwo said: “We want to come out and play here in Kaduna on Friday and do what we like to do best that is play well and beat Egypt and pocket the three points. We want to move from Kaduna to Egypt and beat the Egyptians on their ground and pocket the three points at stake there then we will conclude the job to pick the 2017 African Cup of Nations ticket in Gabon.

 

“As you can see everything is bubbling here in camp and we are already celebrating our victory ahead of the Friday match. We are very confident of victory against Egypt and the atmosphere in camp since we arrived in Abuja and now in Kaduna, has been electrifying and everything is fine here in Kaduna."

 

He also re-assured football fans that the hot weather in Kaduna would not affect the performance of the team when they file out against Egypt. There had been fears that the hot weather might be a problem for the European-based players.