After crowd trouble, Eagles to train behind closed doors
The Super Eagles of Nigeria will train behind closed doors on Thursday evening, as it begins to round off preparations for for the first game of its FIFA World Cup 2018 qualifiers.
The team was watched by a sizable crowd at the Abuja National Stadium Wednesday in its tune up friendly game against Plateau United, which it won by 3-0 with the opener from Anderson Esiti and a brace from Arsenal’s Alex Iwobi.
However, the friendly game was marred by serious crowd trouble, as the enthusiastic crowd, eager to greet the players, went overboard and the safety of the players became an issue.
A top Nigeria Football Federation official told TheCable that aside from the players, coaches and those working with the team, no one will be allowed to enter the stadium this evening as the team gradually rounds off training.
“No one will be allowed in to the stadium today, not even the media,” he said.
“The coaches will be working on the team strategies and they do not want any distractions of any sort.
“Yesterday, we were just very lucky that nothing untoward happened as the crowd, in its enthusiasm to greet the players, nearly injured some of them.
“This can not be allowed to happen again aside the fact that this is a strategic session in which only those working closely with the team can attend.”
Nigeria and Zambia have never met in any FIFA World Cup qualification game. Below are the results of past meetings between them.
P W D L F A (P-Played, W-Won, D-Draw,L-Lost, F-Goals for, A-Goals Against)
Nigeria 18 6 7 5 16 20
Zambia 18 5 7 6 20 16
15 July 1973 (Afcon.q) Zambia 5 -1 Nigeria
29 Jul. 1973 (Afcon.q) Nigeria 3-2 Zambia
14 Feb. 1976 (F) Zambia 1-3 Nigeria
10 Mar. 1978 (Afcon) Zambia 0-0 Nigeria
25 Jul. 1981 (F) Zambia 3-0 Nigeria
13 Mar. 1982 (Afcon) Zambia 3-0 Nigeria
10 Aug. 1985(Afcon.q) Nigeria 0-0 Zambia
18 Aug.1985 (Afcon.q) Zambia 1-0 Nigeria
12 Mar. 1990 (Afcon) Zambia 0-2 Nigeria
10 April 1994 (Afcon) Zambia 1-2 Nigeria
15 Dec. 1997 (F) Zambia 2-0 Nigeria
18 Dec. 1997 (F) Zambia 0-0 Nigeria
13 Jan. 2001(Afcon.q) Nigeria 1-0 Zambia
24 Mar.2001 (Afcon.q) Zambia 1-1 Nigeria
6 Jan.2010 (F) Zambia 0-0 (Nigeria ACN) *(3-4 penalties Nigeria)
14 Nov 2011 (F) Nigeria 2-0 Zambia
25 Jan. 2013 (Afcon) Zambia 1-1 Nigeria
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