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Nigeria's Super Eagles are off to Kigali to continue their road to AFCON 2025, but NFF has been blasted for lack of security for the players.
Nigerian football fans have expressed concern over the National Football Federation's (NFF) handling of the Super Eagles' security as the team departed for their AFCON 2025 qualifier match against Rwanda in Kigali.
The criticism arose after a video shared by the Super Eagles' official account showed fans close to the players as they boarded their transport at the airport.
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Just 24 hours after Nigeria's impressive 3-0 victory over the Benin Republic, this footage has sparked a debate about player safety and crowd management.
Several supporters took to social media to voice their disapproval of the situation. One fan questioned, "Why are people this close to them while coming out of the bus?" highlighting the potential security risks of such close fan access.
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Another supporter directly addressed the Minister of Sports Development, Senator John Owan Enoh, stating, "The players' security is important. Why is the NFF allowing people to stop the players and beg them [for] money? This needs to be addressed, sir."
The incident has also brought to light cultural differences in fan-player interactions. While some pointed out that in Europe, such proximity might result in requests for autographs or photos, in Nigeria, it often leads to monetary solicitations from fans.
"It's just sad that the players' security is not taken seriously," another fan commented, describing the arrangement as "very bad security."
This situation has raised questions about the NFF's protocols for player protection and crowd control during team movements.
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With the Super Eagles continuing their journey towards AFCON 2025 qualification, fans are calling for improved security measures to ensure the safety and comfort of the national team players.
The NFF still needs to respond to these criticisms. However, with growing fan concern, there may be pressure on the federation to review and potentially enhance their security procedures for future team travels.
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