The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has rejected reports that surfaced following a disturbance at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja on Tuesday following a FIFA World Cup playoff match between Nigeria and Ghana.
It could be recalled that Nigerian fans at the Abuja Stadium stormed the pitch after the match between the Super Eagles of Nigeria and the Black Stars of Ghana to destroy facilities at the stadium.
In a statement published on Friday, April 1, the NFF’s General Secretary, Dr Mohammed Sanusi, called remarks that the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja had been banned by FIFA due to fan violence and that the match’s Video Assistant Referee (VAR) equipment had been stolen as a ruse
The statement read;
“We are alarmed at the influx of incorrect reports, otherwise known as fake news, mostly in the social media.
“There is no truth to the reports that the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja has been banned for any length of time by FIFA.
“It is a concoction by some persons with fertile imagination. The NFF has not received any such communication from either FIFA or CAF.
“There has also been an outlandish report that the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) equipment that was installed for the match had been stolen.
“We initially thought this was an April Fool prank but it is alarming that some media outlets are taking it serious.
“Nothing of such happened. The VAR equipment remains intact and has been returned to the FIFA office in Zurich, Switzerland by Sebastian Runge, FIFA’s Head of Technology.
“The NFF understands that Nigerians in their generality were sorely disappointed by the result of the match, which came short of having the Super Eagles at the World Cup.
“It is a painful situation for everyone, including ourselves at the Federation.
“However, we are appealing that the propensity for half truths and outright falsehood be discouraged. We believe that the present squad of Super Eagles is still capable of achieving great things.”
Source: www.ghgossip.com
