The Nigeria Football Federation has confirmed that the Super Eagles’ 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match against the Leone Stars of Sierra Leone will be played without supporters in the stands on Thursday at the MKO Abiola National Stadium in Abuja.
Dr Mohammed Sanusi, General Secretary of the Nigeria Football Federation, stated in Abuja on Tuesday that the scenario is a result of FIFA’s one-match ban imposed on the country following the end of the 2022 FIFA World Cup playoff round against the Black Stars of Ghana in March.
“We want to appeal to our very passionate football fans to take heart for this one game. 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 Super Eagles face the Leone Stars in a Day 1 encounter of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations on Thursday, June 9th at 5pm at the MKO Abiola National Stadium in Abuja. Four days later, they tackle ‘The Falcons and True Parrots’of São Tomé and Príncipe at the 45,000 –capacity Grand Stade de Agadir in southern Morocco.
While Ivorian authorities will oversee the play in Abuja, Liberian officials led by referee Hassen Corneh will oversee the match in Agadir on Monday.
