Ethiopia Football Federation downplays Nigerian team bus attack
Following the controversial football game between Ethiopia and Nigeria last Sunday, the Nigerian team has officially filed a complaint against Ethiopian fans for physically attacking their team bus and injuring one of their midfield players, Nosa Igiebor.
The incident was reported by the Nigerian Football Federation to FIFA after the Super Eagles and the Walya Antelopes played the first leg of their World Cup qualifier playoff.
The Ethiopian Football Federation had earlier promised to investigate the incident and take proper disciplinary actions if the allegations were found to be true.
EFF president Juinedin Basha spoke recently about the claims. He said investigators did not find any evidence to corroborate the allegations.
“Of course the stadium was full of angry fans, who were disappointed by the referee’s decision, especially after he ruled out the first goal,” Basha told BBC Sport.
The Walya Antelopes thought they had opened the scoring after 24 minutes with Saladin Said’s performance, only for Godfrey Oboabona to clear the ball off the line.
The NFF said in a press statement that fans threw stones at the team bus after the match, shattering the rear window of the bus.
“Igiebor was the unlucky one as the stone slashed his right palm leading to profuse bleeding that was immediately attended to by [the] team doctor, Ibrahim Gyaran,” said Ben Alaiya, the Super Eagles press officer.
Despite the Walya Antelopes fans’ disappointment, Basha said there was no evidence to support the claims made by the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF).
The EFF president said, “There was no attack. There was no one injured – either players or individuals from the Nigerian team on Sunday. This is what we found out from our investigation.”
“We have checked everything. We’ve got nothing that shows that a player or any other individual was injured by fans.
“The Ethiopian people are known to be respectful to any African from every corner. This is our culture, this is our history and the Nigerians are our African brothers.”
The Super Eagles won the match 2-1, and are brimming with confidence in anticipation of the second leg of the playoff in Nigeria.
The Walya Antelopes will make their way to Calabar on 16 November for the return leg of the play-off, where the winners will progress to the World Cup finals in Brazil.