Sports ministry bars fans from Eagles, Leone Stars clash

The Ministry of Youth and Sports Development and the Presidential Task Force on Covid-19 has advised the Edo State Government and the Nigerian Football Federation against reaching the COVID-19 protocols by allowing fans into the 2021 AFCON qualifier against Sierra Leone on November 13.

When he inspected the Samuel Ogbemudia stadium, venue of the 2021 AFCON qualifier, the president of the Nigeria Football Federation, Amaju Pinnick hinted that few spectators would be allowed into the 15,000 capacity stadium.

Mallam Sidi: Inside The Rehab Of Repentant Boko Haram MembersThe Edo State Government had also announced that the gates  into Ogbemudia stadium would be thrown open to allow fans watch the game live.

However, in a letter to the Deputy Governor of Edo State Comrade Philip Shaibu, the Ministry said” The Ministry wishes to bring to your urgent attention that in compliance with the condition of no gathering agreed upon by the Ministry and the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 before the Federal Government opened up football and contacts sports, the match between Nigeria and Sierra Leone will not have any audience and no gathering save for players, match officials and government officials from both countries. And tests must be conducted on all of them prior to the match.

The Ministry further disclosed “The no gathering, no audience for football and contact sports is still in force. Which means there shall be no gathering for the Nigerian vs Sierra Leone match as any violation of this condition may lead to a roll back of the opening up of football and contact sports in the country.

“The PTF and the Sports Ministry are on the same page on this matter and the protocol for clearances rests with both the Ministry and the PTF when it comes to staging any sports event in Nigeria. Full compliance with Covid-19 protocols is to be enforced.”

The PTF on VOVID-19 is said to be worried about a possible spike following a   second wave of  COVID-19  and is considering  another  lockdown