AFCON qualifier: Allow us cheer Eagles, NFSC boss, Ikpea begs PTF

By George Aluo

National Chairman of Nigeria Football Supporters Club (NFSC) Rev Sam Ikpea has faulted the decision of Presidential Task Force (PTF) on Covid-19 not to allow fans into the stadium for the Nigeria versus Sierra Leone AFCON qualifier this week in Benin.

Ikpea in a chat with newstap.com.ng wondered why fans won’t be allowed into the Sam Ogbemudia Stadium when that has not been the case in other spheres of our national life, especially in politics.

In his words:”Edo state just finished an election in which there was a huge turn out of voters, most of whom did not respect Covid-19 protocols. We also saw huge crowd during the #EndSars protests…all these didn’t lead to any spike in Covid-19, so why won’t fans be allowed into the stadium to cheer our national team. Why won’t my members be allowed to cheer the Eagles…I don’t think the decision is proper,” Ikpea said.

Ikpea stressed that worst case scenario the PTF should allow members of the Supporters Club into the stadium to cheer the Eagles.

“We are always the 12th player for all our national teams. If they don’t want fans, they should at least allow my members to go in there and do our patriotic duty of cheering the Eagles to victory.”

It would be noted that the Edo State government had on its part resolved to throw the gates open to fans before the PTF decision which the state may eventually respect.

Gov Obaseki had said they wanted to allow fans into the brand new stadium as a way of saying “thank you “ to them for voting him for a second term in office.

The encounter takes place on the 13th a day after the governor’s inauguration on November 12th.