Exclusive: How stadium manager sabotaged Eagles training

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The Super Eagles of Nigeria were left frustrated at the Moshood Abiola Stadium in Abuja following a power failure at the main bowl of the stadium during their training session on Monday.

The Super Eagles are billed to take on Guinea Bissau in a doubleheader for the 2024 African Cup of Nations qualifiers on Friday in Abuja and Monday in Bissau.

There are reports alleging that the stadium manager may be the mastermind behind the blackout.

HOW IT STARTED

The Super Eagles of Nigeria started their training session on Monday by 5pm but they could not finish their activities as the generating set at the stadium went off in the night forcing the players and coaches to abandon their evening sessions.

According to Best Choice Sports, They however returned to the pitch again on Tuesday with a scheduled for 5pm but commenced at 6 o’clock, instead. But at about forty-five minutes past the hour, again, there was another power outage.

The players and officials were forced, once more, to observe their training schedules with their phone torch light as an alternative source of energy.

THE TRUTH UNRAVELED

Information gathered by The Athletic NG holds that the stadium manager had collected a substantial amount of money from the NFF for logistics.

He also further went on to demand an extra amount from the federation for diesel.

According to reports, As the day was getting dark, the stadium manager was called severally to turn up the light and he lied repeatedly about filling the tank until the training ended abruptly with the players and coaching staff leaving in anger.

IS THE MINISTRY/NFF INVOLVED?

It is however unknown whether his superiors are aware of his gimmicks to sabotage the team.

According to reports from CompleteSports, The ministry of sports denied any wrongdoing in Super Eagles Tuesday training in the dark.

Media aide to the Minister, Kola Daniel, explained that the no-light situation in the stadium was due to the “vandalization of the electricity cable” feeding the stadium.

His Words:

“We got reports that some hoodlums vandalized the cables supplying light into the stadium complex on Monday. That is why darkness enveloped the main bowl forcing the Super Eagles to do the last few minutes of their training in the dark,”

“Hopefully, this will not happen again as the officers responsible for the stadium facilities are working round the clock to restore electricity to the complex. We shall also ensure that the generator powering the main bowl functions all through tomorrow for the AFCON qualifying match and Super Eagles training.”

The NFF on their part also disclosed to The Athletic NG that a good substantial amount was given to the stadium manager which included money for diesel to take care of everything during this period.

Meanwhile, ahead of the first leg encounter between the Super Eagles of Nigeria Vs the Djurtus of Guinea Bissau, the 23 players are now in camp with the latest arrivals being Napoli hitman, Victor Osimhen and Zaidu Sanusi.

The Super Eagles of Nigeria are billed to take on Guinea Bissau on Friday, March 24, 2023 at 5 pm in the 2023 African Nations Cup qualifier while the second leg holds on Tuesday, March 28, 2023.

Nigeria currently leads Group A with 6 points from two matches and they are closely matched by their opponents who are second with 4 points.