Bomb Blasts: NFF Apprehensive Over Kaduna

A top official of Nigeria Football Federation has said that the federation were now ‘apprehensive’ about having the Super Eagles play their qualifying games in Kaduna following the Easter bomb blasts.

Nigeria due to host  the World Cup and African Nations Cup qualifying games in the northern city this summer, but the fatal bomb blasts have left officials worried, although officially all are putting on brave faces.

“At the moment, we are all apprehensive after what happened this past weekend,” an NFF official said. “We will meet soon and consider the situation.”

On record, however, both NFF President Aminu Maigari, and Secretary General Musa Amadu were singing  different tune. “The match in Kaduna is part of our efforts to use football to bring unity to the country. Nobody should raise unnecessary alarm,” Maigari said.

Amadu explained why Kaduna remained under consideration, “Abuja and Kaduna are the only two good stadia in the country that have natural grass,” he said.

“The rest are artificial turf. And we know the condition of the Abuja pitch at the moment.

“In any case, no one at the federation has officially come out to say we will play in Kaduna yet. So this is all speculation from the media for now.”

To complicate matters further, a number of Europe-based players have told Tidesport source they will not feel safe playing in Kaduna.

Last year, the Super Eagles played a friendly against Zambia in Kaduna and the game went without incident.