Pundits say the action of the fans contravenes FIFA and CAF law and may attract a fine and imposition of a stadium ban on Nigeria
By Kehinde Okeowo
World football governing body FIFA and the Confederation of African Football (CAF), may punish Nigeria after fans invaded the Moshood Abiola National Stadium pitch, following a 1-1 draw with the Black Stars yesterday.
The stalemate at Abuja Stadium meant the Super Eagles failed to qualify for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. due to the away goal rule, despite earning a 1-1 aggregate scoreline in the double-header.
While Ghana fans were celebrating the qualification after the match, thousands of disappointed Nigeria fans started raining plastic bottles on the pitch, not even the Black Stars players were spared as they
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The angry supporters later invaded the pitch and proceeded to attack Ghanaian players and fans, destroying properties in the Stadium in the process.
The substitute benches were smashed by the fans, who demanded the immediate sack of the President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Amaju Pinnick.
“Pinnick must go! Pinnick must go!!” the mob sang, as others asked for the removal of the Eagles’ gaffer, Augustine Eguavoen too.
The Police later came in to quash the protest, firing several rounds of tear gas canisters into the air to disperse the angry protesters.
Pundits believe the action of the fans contravenes FIFA and CAF laws on violence and crowd trouble in stadiums and might attract a fine and imposition of a stadium ban on Nigeria.
