Apparently the dust from Nigeria’s shambolic second-leg World Cup play-off fiasco in Abuja is yet to settle and the NFF is scurrying about on mop up duties, the latest being the alleged FIFA ban on the MKO Abiola Stadium and stolen VAR system.
Well, in a statement, Friday, the NFF general secretary Mohammed Sanusi denied reports of a ban or missing VAR as reported by several local media outlets.
“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,” the statement read in part. “It is a concoction by some persons with fertile imagination. The NFF has not received any such communication from either FIFA or CAF.”
The stadium suffered vandalization by irate fans after Nigeria’s World Cup hopes to reach Qatar 2022 was dashed by Ghana.
There was even a lame attempt to trivialize the ugly scenes on Tuesday and bellowing rumors with a reference to the April Fool’s day material – it was dry.
“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,” the statement continues.
” 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.”
