SAN FRANCISCO, October 10, (THEWILL) – The Super Eagles, Nigeria’s national football team, were hurriedly driven away from the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport, Abuja, on their arrival from Zambia, on Monday morning, after gun shots were fired into the air.
THEWILL gathered that a scuffle ensured as two unidentified men in plainclothes claiming to be police officers attempted to arrest Shehu Dikko, second Vice President, Nigeria Football Federation and Chairman of the League Manangement Company (LMC), on the orders of the FCT Commissioner of police.
NFF Executive Committee Members, team officials and cronies of Dikko resisted the attempt and demanded to see a warrant and identification which they couldn’t produce.
This prompted the men to fire gun shot in the air which forced officials to scramble the Super Eagles into their team bus and hurriedly driven away to safety.
Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari has saluted the Eagles for recording an away victory over Zambia on Sunday describing it as soul-lifting.
THEWILL recalls that the Eagles begun its qualifying campaign for Russia 2018 World Cup on Sunday by beating Zambia 2-1 in Ndola, Zambia.
“The away victory was not only tonic for Nigeria at a time like this, but also a confidence booster that the indomitable Nigerian spirit is well and alive,” the President said in a statement issued in Abuja by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina.
“This is but the first step in a long journey. However, that step has been well taken. An away victory at this level, in which the stakes are quite high, is remarkable.
“The ultimate is to qualify for Russia 2018 and fly Nigeria’s flag alongside those of other giant soccer playing nations. I look forward to that.”
Story by David Oputah
