Nigeria vs Sierra Leone: Fans banned from 2023 AFCON qualifier in Abuja

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has reiterated that fans will not be allowed into the stadium for Thursday’s 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier between Nigeria and Sierra Leone.

The match will be played behind closed doors.

FIFA had fined Nigeria ₦63m ($154,086) and stated the Super Eagles will play one match without fans after crowd troubles in their 2022 World Cup play-off second leg against Ghana.

And a statement from the NFF, noted the ban still takes effect as earlier announced by the football ruling body, while they called on fans to support the three-time African champions in other ways possible.

“We want to appeal to our very passionate football fans to take heart for this one game,” it read.

“It is only a one-match ban, after which they can again start trooping out to support the Super Eagles. The match against Sierra Leone will be without fans as a consequence of what happened after the match against the Ghanaians.

“Nonetheless, we want to urge all our football fans, and indeed all Nigerians, to support the team whichever way they can and pray for success against the Sierra Leoneans on Thursday.”