The Nigeria Football Federation has cautioned football fans to stay away from the Moshood Abiola Sports Stadium ahead of the 2023 AFCON qualifier against Sierra Leone.
The Super Eagles host The Loene Stars on Thursday in their opening game of the 2023 AFCON qualifier.
The game will be played behind a closed door as a consequence of the one-match ban placed on the country by the world football –governing body, FIFA over the fracas that followed the end of the 2022 FIFA World Cup playoff round against the Black Stars of Ghana in March.
“We want to appeal to our very passionate football fans to take heart for this one game. It is only a one-match ban, after which they can again start trooping out to support the Super Eagles. The match against Sierra Leone will be without fans as a consequence of what happened after the match against the Ghanaians,” NFF secretary-general Mohamed Sanusi told thenff.com.
“Nonetheless, we want to urge all our football fans, and indeed all Nigerians, to support the team whichever way they can and pray for success against the Sierra Leoneans on Thursday.”
The Super Eagles will travel to Marrakech, Morocco for their matchday two encounters against Sao Tome and Principe next week Monday.
The Djurtus of Guinea-Bissau is the other team in the group.