The president of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Melvin Amaju Pinnick has declared that there will be a carnival like atmosphere for the Super Eagles’ final match in the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, and exuded confidence that the tam will carry the day at Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos.
Although the encounter with Lesotho is a dead-rubber game, considering that the Eagles have already qualified for Cameroon 2022, while The Crocodiles are completely out of contention for a ticket, Pinnick enthused that the game would be used to celebrate Nigeria’s qualification.
He added that the match will also be used to introduce the Eagles back to Lagos fans, who last saw the team in friendly mach at same venue 11 years ago, against Sierra Leone, but it is a whole 20 years back when they played a competitive game in The Centre of Excellence.
Consequently, Pinnick added that the match against Lesotho is another opportunity for Lagos fans to watch the Eagles in an international engagement after a long absence from the nation’s former capital, hence the NFF’s determination to see the team mark their return on a winning note.
An official of Lagos State Government interjected that the NFF will decide how many fans will be allowed to watch the match, at which the state governor, Mr Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu is expected to lead dignitaries.
Also expected to grace the game is the deputy governor, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, speaker of the House of Representatives, Honorable Femi Gbajabiamila, sports minister, Sunday Akinlabi Dare and permanent secretary in the ministry, Mr Nebolisa Anako.
NFF’s director of media, Ademola Olajire further disclosed that, in order to avoid breaching Confederation of African Football (CAF) directives and existing COVID-19 protocol, the state government has worked out how to ensure that only 30 per cent of the spectators’ capacity is allowed to watch the game.
Olajire concluded: “I don’t what the gate fees would be yet, but I know it would be affordable. The security arrangement will be handled by Lagos State and NFF and meetings on that area have commenced.”
