The Ministry of Youth and Sports Development and the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 has announced that the 2020 African Cup of Nations Qualifier clash between the Super Eagles of Nigeria and the Lone Stars of Sierra Leone will be played behind closed doors.
The Federal Government made this known on Thursday in reaction to the decision of the Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, to throw the gates of the Samuel Ogbemudia stadium open for fans.
The FG, while clarifying that their decision to bar fans from the stadium is to curb the spread of COVID-19, further warned the Edo State Government and the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) against breaching the COVID-19 protocol during the upcoming match.
In a letter to the Deputy Governor of Edo State, Philip Shaibu, the ministry warned against any plan by the Edo State Government and NFF to allow fans into the stadium, saying ‘no audience for football and contact sports is still in force’.
“The ministry wishes to bring to your urgent attention that in compliance with the 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 contacts sports, the match between Nigeria and Sierra Leone will not have any audience and no gathering except the players, match officials and government officials from both countries. Tests must be conducted on all of them prior to the match”.
“The no gathering, no audience for football and contact sports is still in force. Which means there shall be no gathering for the Nigerian Vs Sierra Leone match, as any violation of this condition may lead to a roll back of the opening up of football and contact sports in the country”.
“The PTF and ministry are on the same page on this matter and the protocol for clearance rests with both the ministry and the PTF when it comes to staging any sporting event in Nigeria. Full compliance with COVID-19 protocols will be enforced,” the letter read in part.
The PTF had earlier in the week expressed worry over the spike on the second wave of COVID-19 and is considering another lockdown.
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