During Thursday’s Africa Cup of Nations qualification (AFCON 2023) Amatch against the Leone Stars, the Super Eagles will play without their fans. The Nigeria Football Federation has confirmed that Nigeria’s AFCON 2023 qualifier against Sierra Leone would be played behind closed doors on Thursday.
After crowd disturbance in their 2022 World Cup play-off second leg against Ghana, Fifa fined the West African country 63 million dollars ($154,086) and said the Super Eagles would play one match without fans.
And, according to a statement released by the NFF, the ban remains in effect as previously established by the football governing body, while fans are encouraged to support the three-time African champions in other ways.
“We want to appeal to our very passionate football fans to take heart for this one game,” it read.
“It is only a one-match ban, after which they can again start trooping out to support the Super Eagles. The match against Sierra Leone will be without fans as a consequence of what happened after the match against the Ghanaians.
“Nonetheless, we want to urge all our football fans, and indeed all Nigerians, to support the team whichever way they can and pray for success against the Sierra Leoneans on Thursday.”
The three-time African champions intensified their preparations for the match at the M.KO Abiola Stadium in Abuja, where coach Jose Peseiro had all of his players in great spirits.
Emmanuel Dennis and Innocent Bonke, both of Watford, are serious concerns for the Group A opener after missing Monday’s training to speed up their recovery from injury.
After triumphs against Liberia and Congo in their last two international friendlies, John Keister’s side entered the game full of confidence.
The three-time African champions, on the other hand, have lost their last five matches in all competitions. Their most recent victory occurred at the Roumde Adjia Stadium in a 2021 Africa Cup of Nations match against Guinea Bissau.
Augustine Eguavoen’s side won 2-0 thanks to goals from Sadiq Umar and William Troost-Ekong in the second half.
Peseiro and his team will travel to Grand Stade de Agadir, Morocco, for their next match against Sao Tome and Principe, four days after defeating Sierra Leone.
Read Also: What are the World Cup 2022 groups?