Women In Adamawa May Not Watch Match
AHEAD of their match with Burkina Faso on Sunday, Senate President, David Mark, has urged the Super Eagles to "show absolute concentration throughout the duration of the match" and "not make the mistake of underrating their opponents till the last whistle."
The Eagles had defeated Aiglons of Mali 4-1 at the semi-finals on Wednesday to clinch the final ticket.
Mark, who led the Federal Government's delegation to Johannesburg, venue of the match, to cheer the Eagles, told the players that Nigerians are solidly behind them in prayers.
On his departure from the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, at about 10:15 am, Mark admonished the Eagles not to leave anything to chance.
"Our national pride is at stake and you know sports, especially soccer, is a unifying factor in Nigeria. I can say with every amount of certainty that all Nigerians are yearning for the victory. They are saying to the Eagles, 'go with the Nigerian spirit and win the trophy!' Mark said.
He expressed optimism that the Eagles would triumph because their performance improved progressively with every match.
The delegation includes Governor Isa Yuguda of Bauchi State, Senators Adamu Gumba, Aygu Eze and Nurudeen Abatemi.
Others are Police Affairs Minister, Caleb Olubolade and Minister of State, Foreign Affairs, Professor Viola Onwuliri.
In the same vein, former Governor of Abia State, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, urged the Super Eagles to "sustain their level headedness and concentration on the game."
Also, the Director General, National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mr. Mike Omeri, commended the players and urged them to clinch victory.
Kalu, who is currently in United States, told The Guardian: "Keshi's silent innovations have paid off."
Omeri said that the Eagles displayed the desired fighting spirit, which Nigeria is known for, especially in defence of national pride and integrity. He noted that the support of Nigerians for the team shows that, in solidarity, the country can accomplish anything.
Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara State, yesterday, praised the performances of the team, urging them to bring home the trophy.
Meanwhile, football fans in Adamawa, especially women, yesterday, complained of the rigours of patronising television viewing centres to watch today's AFCON final.
A cross section of them told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Mubi and Yola that they might not watch the match since local television stations would not relay it.
Miss Laraba Buba, a student, said the unresolved broadcast right dispute between the Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria and LC2 has prevented local stations from showing the matches.
"As you know, no local station is showing the AFCON matches and I don't think the final match will be shown by any of the stations. As a woman, I cannot go to those viewing centres to pay and watch in view of the rowdiness there," Buba lamented.
Mrs. Hanatu Johnson, a teacher, said she is concerned more about her children who are "keen football fans".
"The kids have been reminding me that Sunday is the day the final of the AFCON will take place. The fact is that I don't know how to explain to them why the three television stations are not showing the final game," Johnson said.
The Guardian