Eagles exempted from NCDC quarantine protocols, team list out next month

Lesotho game to hold at Teslim Balogun Stadium

THE Nigeria Football Federation ( NFF) has revealed that players listed for Nigeria’s 2022 African Cup of Nations qualifier against Squirrels of Benin Republic slated for March 22 will not be subjected to Nigeria Center for Disease Control ( NCDC) quarantine rules for people arriving from overseas countries, especially England and South Africa. The NCDC rule states that such arrivals must be tested for COVID- 19 and quarantined for a while before being integrated to the society.

NFF Media Director, Ademola Olajire, told The Guardian yesterday that every player invited for the AFCON qualifier would be tested on COVID- 19 on arrival in the country, but would not be quarantined because it would not be possible for them to get to camp two weeks before the match.

Olajire revealed that the federation is working with Coach Gernot Rohr, who is already in the country, for the success of the qualifier.

“The Super Eagles will camp in Nigeria before departing for Benin Republic. This is the normal routine of the team.

“We will write to the necessary agencies on the arrival of the overseas- based players. Everything is under control… Rohr is already in the country planning ahead of the game.

“I will like to also officially inform football loving Nigerians that Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos will host the Eagles AFCON qualifier against Lesotho on March 30,” he said.

Eagles need a draw against the Squirrels on March 22 to qualify for next year’s African Cup of Nations.

Recall that the recent identification of a new variant of the coronavirus in some countries has forced Nigerian health officials to impose additional restrictions on international travelers entering the country. Now passengers from the United Kingdom and South Africa are required to obtain and present predeparture permit to fly and a QR code confirming they have booked a COVID- 19 test on the seventh day of their trip in Nigeria.

Additionally, all travelers from the UK or South Africa must provide a negative COVID- 19 Polymerase Chain Reaction ( PCR) test results from an exam taken within 96 hours prior to boarding. Upon arrival passengers, whose point of origin is from either the UK or South Africa will be processed by the public health authorities separately from those individuals arriving from other destinations.

Assuming the NCDC stand their ground, Super Eagles players based in South Africa and England, including Alex Iwobi, Kelechi Iheanacho, Ola Aina, Daniel Akpeyi, and William TroostEkong, among others, could be ruled out of the tie. Nigeria currently leads the AFCON qualifier group with a point ahead of Benin Republic.

The question that is begging for an answer is what really happened to the ranches that were built before and during the First Republic? What happened to Iwo, Shaki, Agege, Ikun, Jos, Obudu and other ranches? What happened to the animals kept on these ranches? Who sold them? Who ate them? It is clear now that ranching is no longer a government business, for the government has shown itself to be spectacularly incompetent in handling any business, but we still need to know what happened to the ranches. Ekiti State government, in conjunction with a private company, has resuscitated the Ikun Cattle Ranch and Cross River State Government has found other uses for the Obudu Cattle Ranch.

There is no doubt that the Fulani herdsmen crisis is of major consequences for Nigeria. There is no other Nigerian ethnic group that would go to another ethnic group territory and claim the ownership of their land except the Fulani. To imagine that they are even killing in Oyo State and other parts of Nigeria to retain ownership and control of illegally seized territories! Such brazing criminality cannot be tolerated nor can it endure. Therefore, each state government must wise up to the crisis and rise up to the occasion. This crisis is also foretelling a session of famine in the nearest future. When farmers cannot go to the farm because of fear, we know there would be no food for the people. Nigeria now has more Nigerians living as refugees in Nigeria than we had during the Civil War. Many states now have Internally Displaced Persons, IDP, camp. And there is no end in sight to the crisis.

What would surprise many people is the brazen effrontery of the Fulani headsmen and the Miyetti Allah group backing their terrorist activities. It is interesting that the Fulani herdsmen who for generation were always armed with the shepherd staff, now have access to automatic machine guns. They have used these weapons against farmers without consequences in many instances. They have backers in high places apparently and what have they really done wrong compared to those who managed the Ajaokuta Steel construction or who helped to ruin the Nigeria Airways and shut down the Iwopin Paper Mill?

Once three robbers were brought before Alexander the Great. They were accused of pillaging some villages. The three robbers and their gang were more ferocious than the most fearsome rogue herdsmen. Alexander asked for their defence.

“Your Majesty,” one of them said. “We are only imitating Your Majesty. While you pillage many kingdoms and seize the crowns of many princes and kings, we only attack some villages.”

Alexander replied: “Let me reflect.”