Super Eagles vs Sierra Leone: NFF, Edo State need PTF clearance to admit fans

THE Nigeria Football Federation has responded to reports that the gates of the Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City will be thrown open for the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match between the Super Eagles and Sierra Leone.

The Super Eagles are scheduled to host the Leone Stars on 13 November before travelling for the reverse fixture four days later in Freetown.

The reports claim Governor Godwin Obaseki has ordered that fans should be given access to the stadium to watch the Benin City match free of charge, but a top NFF official is not sure that fans will even be allowed in at all, with or without gate fees.

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, all sporting activities (including the Nigeria Professional Football League and the National Sports Festival initially billed for Benin City in March) were suspended in Nigeria indefinitely in March, and contact sports got the nod to return only recently.

However, according to the Presidential Tast Force on COVID-19, strict guidelines must be followed during sporting events, including holding such events without spectators to minimise the threat of the highly contagious virus.

When Naija Times contacted a high-ranking NFF official on Saturday asking if fans will be allowed in for the match, he clarified that neither the football governing body nor the Edo State government has the final say in that regard.

“We don’t know yet,” he replied to the query.

“Things will become clearer next week. I think we need to write to PTF for clarity.”

The Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 makes all the decisions regarding coronavirus guidelines and without their permission fans cannot be at the stadium.

In most parts of the world, football and other sporting events are still held behind closed doors, with only athletes, officials and few journalists given access to stadiums.

In the few places where fans are allowed in, the venues are restricted to about 30 percent capacity as the fight against COVID-19 continues worldwide.