Eagles friendlies: Anxiety as coronavirus cases rise in Austria

The recent spike in COVID-19 cases in Austria has given the country’s football-crazy fans a cause for concern, with the Super Eagles set to play two friendly games in the European nation next month.

The Eagles play Ivory Coast on October 9, before another clash against Tunisia on October 13 at yet to be announced venues in Austria.

Austria is experiencing the start of a second wave of coronavirus infections, the country’s chancellor Sebastian Kurz announced penultimate Sunday, urging citizens to comply with reinforced rules to keep down new cases.

Between October 11 and 12, the nation of nine million people reported 869 new cases, more than half in the capital of Vienna, the highest daily figure since late March.

In all, the country has reportedly recorded more than 33,000 infections and seen 750 virus-related deaths.

The latest development in Austria is worrisome, says Valentine Ekene, a businessman at Computer Village, Lagos.

“They have to discontinue with the matches if coronavirus is going high again in Europe, especially with what’s happening in Austria,” Ekene stated.

“We should consider health first, football is just entrainment. If the postponement is best in this case, let the NFF just do it and keep our players safe.”

Former Eagles winger, Tijani Babangida, said, “If the cases of COVID-19 are becoming very high (in Austria), the games should be postponed.

“It’s great that we have these friendlies but at least, we should play and stay safe.”

Okputu Friday, a security personnel in Lagos, added, “We love football in Nigeria and we love the Super Eagles. We don’t want any of our players to contract this deadly virus. We are afraid of what may happen to our players after the games.”