Nigeria faces severe FIFA, CAF sanctions over pitch invasion by angry fans, as match official reportedly dies in stadium

[By VICTOR NZE]

In addition to losing one of the five tickets allotted to Africa for the FIFA 2022 World Cup in Qatar, this year, Nigeria now stares lengthy and hefty sanctions to be imposed by the world football governing body, FIFA, as well as, its continental affiliate, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) over the mayhem that descended on the Moshood Abiola Stadium, Abuja, in the aftermath of the last qualification match against Ghana.

Aside a likely stadium ban, severe sanction could also affect the participation of the national U20 team, the Falconets at the World Cup in Costa Rica, which they have already qualified for.

Fans displeased with the result which saw the Super Eagles fail to clinch a ticket to the World Cup, Tuesday night, at the Abuja stadium, fans invaded the laying pitch in anger, destroying equipment and rampaging as police fired tear gas to disperse them.

However, to worsen the country’s situation, a yet to be officially confirmed report has claimed that a top CAF official slumped inside the Abuja stadium in the heat of the mayhem and was pronounced dead on reaching a nearby hospital.

The official cause of death is yet to be made known, even as CAF has also yet to confirm the death of its official.

The CAF identified as Dr. Joseph Kabungo, who is said to the doping officer attached to CAF and Zambian national assigned to the Nigeria/Ghana match.

The Nigeria/Ghana was a FIFA match supervised by CAF.

Neither officials of the Nigeria Football Federation nor CAF have confirmed the doctor’s death.

A British-Nigerian journalist, Osasu Obayiuwana, who reported the incident via his verified Twitter handle, also said Kabungo’s family, the Zambia FA and the Government of Zambia had been informed.

Osasu tweeted: “Sad news: I understand that an official for the @NGSuperEagles vs @GhanaBlackstars match (not a referee or assistant referee) died in #Abuja today.

“His name is Dr Joseph Kabungo from Zambia. He was on duty as Doping officer. He collapsed suddenly and died. Cause of death not confirmed yet. His family, the Zambia FA and the government of Zambia have been duly informed.

“If the death of #Zambian doctor Dr Joseph Kabungo at the #Abuja stadium was caused by being attacked by the #Nigerian fans who invaded the pitch, after the @NGSuperEagles lost the @FIFAWorldCup ticket to @GhanaBlackstars, @thenff would be in terrible trouble with @FIFAcom.”

As at Wednesday afternoon, none of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Zambia FA, CAF, FIFA has confirmed the incident.

Nigeria Tuesday night, extended their lacklustre performance, as they were dumped out of qualification for the 2022 FIFA World Cup by the Black Stars of Ghana at the 60,000 full-capacity Moshood Abiola Stadium in Abuja.

At the end of the match, fans in anger refused to leave the stadium as they subsequently invaded the pitch.

Chaos descended on the stadium as the police fired tear gas canisters onto the pitch to disperse the rioting fans who had resorted to destroying stadium facilities.

The Super Eagles had earlier Friday drew with the Ghana national team in the first of a two-legged fixture for one of the five available tickets allotted to Africa ahead the global football tournament coming up in Qatar, later this year.

Heading into Tuesday’s reverse fixture needing an outright win, as the away goals ruled applied in the Africa qualifier, Nigeria conceded the first goal in the 11^th minute through Arsenal FC midfielder, Thomas Partey’s low drive from outside the box, which crept underneath Francis Uzoho, the Super Eagles second choice goalkeeper.

However, when Ghana’s Denis Odoi fouled Ademola Lookman in the box, it needed VAR check for referee to point to the spot for a penalty to Nigeria, which captain William Troost-Ekong converted in the 22^nd minute.

The Super Eagles thought they had gotten the lead in 33^rd minute after Victor Osimhen had put the ball into the Ghana net, but another VAR check overruled for offside.

The first ended 1-1.

The second half had the Super Eagles dominating possession with no end result.

After five minutes of added time, the Tunisian blew off the match as Ghana secured the World Cup ticket for Qatar.

The loss provoked fans at the stadium to riot, as they invaded the pitch in anger calling for the sacking of the Super Eagles coach, Augustine Eguavoen.

The Super Eagles home record continued on its disappointing run of only two wins in as many matches played.

However, with the mayhem that took over the stadium pitch even while players and match officials were still on it, FIFA and CAF are set to wield the big hammer on Nigeria, with heavy sanctions.

Both football governing bodies do not treat issues of pitch invasions lightly.

Aside imposing financial fines, a stadium ban is also likely. The sanction could also gravitate to the banning the country’s football teams from tournaments, a penalty which would directly affect Nigeria’s Under 20 female national team, the Falconets.

NFF officials could also face likely sanctions if the CAF is confirmed to have died in the stadium invasion.

The Falconets, only last Friday, defeated their Senegalese counterparts via 7-2 aggregate after thrashing the West African neighbours 4-1 at the second leg match played at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City, Friday. The first leg in Dakar ended 3-1 in favour of the Nigerian team.

The FIFA U20 World Cup comes up in Costa Rica, later this year.