By Oyinlola Awonuga (The New Diplomat’s Entertainment, Fashion and Sports Desk)
The 2022 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying fixture between the Super Eagles of Nigeria and Leone Stars of Sierra Leone on Friday, November 13, 2020 at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium will be played without spectators.
There were earlier reports that around 6,000 to 7,000 will be allowed into the newly refurbished ground for the game.
The Presidential Task Force on Covid-19 and Ministry of Sports have, however,advised the Edo State Government and the Nigeria Football Federation against breaching Coronavirus protocol by allowing fans into the venue.
“The ministry wishes to bring to your attention that in compliance with condition of no gathering agreed upon by the ministry and the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 before the Federal Government opened up football and contact sports, the match between Nigeria and Sierra Leone will not have any audience and no gathering save for players, match officials and government officials from both countries. Testing must be conducted on all of them prior to the match,” a letter to Edo State deputy Governor, Philip Shuaibu read in part.
The Super Eagles top Group L with six points from their opening two games against the Squirrels of Benin and Crocodiles of Lesotho.
