Ladipo spits fire as NFF ‘shuts doors’ on Eagles fans

• Soon we will show you our true colours

The General Chairman of the Nigerian Football Supporters Club, Dr. Rafiu Ladipo, has criticized the officials of the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF), claiming that the Federation denied them the opportunity to travel on the charter flight to Ghana for today’s World Cup qualifier against the Black Stars.

“This is the highest level of viciousness by the NFF towards members of the various Fan Clubs,” an angry Ladipo told Newslodge yesterday.

“The NFF arranged a charter flight for the trip to Kumasi, and the Federation did not see fit to take any members of the Supporters Club with them. No members of the NFSC group, led by the Rev. Samuel Ikpea, and the Super Eagles Supporters Club (SESC), headed by Vincent Okumagba, were included on the charter flight to Kumasi.

“The few members of the rock that traveled to Ghana paid for the trip by land or by air. While some people, who can’t even sing to cheer up the Super Eagles on the pitch, were on the charter flight to Kumasi. This is sad for our football. I pray that we qualify for the World Cup.

That is when we will show them our true color. This nonsense must stop,” Ladipo said. According to him, it costs between N450,000 and N500,000 to sponsor a fan club member to cheer on the Eagles in Kumasi. “The plane ticket costs around 250,000 and one has to pay for the COVID-19 test in Lagos before flying, pay for another COVID-19 test in Ghana, pay for the hotel, food and others.

“Our singing and dancing have a way of stimulating the players on the field. Despite not reaching Ghana, I have instructed members of our chapters in Ghana and Burkina Faso to join the NFSC in supporting the Super Eagles. I spent my money to start those chapters a few years ago. I don’t see any reason why Amaju Pinnick would treat the gang members like dogs. He will soon stop.”