#EndSARS protest: Super Eagle Players to shun AFCON qualifiers due to Nigerian Violence
Super Eagles midfielder, John Ogu has said he won’t be representing the country in the next African Cup of Nation’s qualifiers, for the 2021 African cup of Nation double-header match against Sierra Leone that is slated to hold next month.
Ogu said this in a tweet, while reacting to the Lekki toll gate shooting, that happened on Tuesday evening, where armed officers fired live bullets on unarmed protesters that led to the death of many innocent Nigerian youths. He tweeted at the Nigerian Super Eagles and the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF), asking the politicians to ask their kids to go represent Nigeria in the forth coming AFCON qualifiers;
The Politicians should asked their children to go and represent Nigeria in the next @NGSuperEagles , @thenff upcoming games . ???
— John Ogu (@ogujohnugo) October 20, 2020
Another super Eagle’s player based in Belgium said he will not be representing Nigeria, after the government murdered his brothers and sisters in cold blood. According to the Punch newspaper, the player said they should end their killing and unrest, else he will stay away for good. Other Nigerian players outside the country has also joined to condemn the tragedic event of Tuesday evening at the Lekki toll gate. Manchester United striker Odion Ighalo has also called the Nigerian government “A shame to the world for killing their own citizens.”
Pray for NIGERIA??✊? pic.twitter.com/V7i4Ngs9qd
— Odion Jude Ighalo (@ighalojude) October 20, 2020
Former Super eagles captain, John Mikel Obi, during an interview with BBC Pidgin, called this period a “very sad time for our country,” he also said that the entire country needs change starting from the top. The current Super Eagles Captain, Ahmed Musa said it is very unfortunate that Nigerian’s has lost their right to peacefully protest or exercise their basic human right. The government needs to do better and put an end to this nightmare, Musa added.
There are rumors that the entire team is trying to meet in person to protest in support of Nigerian EndSARS protesters. Although it is not clear yet if all the players have agreed not to play for the Super Eagles in the next few matches yet.
