The Nigeria Football Supporters Club (NFSC) has initiated an extensive mobilisation effort targeting Nigerian residents in Cote d’Ivoire to gather in Abidjan and cheer on the Super Eagles to triumph in the upcoming 2023 AFCON tournament.
Mr. Bright Urenyere, Chairman of the Mobilisation Committee, NFSC, Cote D’Ivoire chapter, conveyed their plans in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), highlighting the NFSC’s sole presence as the registered supporters club rallying local support for the Super Eagles.
Urenyere emphasised their commitment, stating, “We have been doing a lot to sensitise and mobilise Nigerians here in Cote d’Ivoire to come out en masse to support the Super Eagles when the tournament starts.”
The NFSC, with over 500 registered members locally, aims to bolster its support by mobilising over 1,000 Nigerian residents to passionately support the Super Eagles during the tournament.
However, Urenyere expressed concerns about the Nigerian Embassy’s support, noting an association with an “unknown” supporters club named ‘Authentic’ while seemingly sidelining the NFSC, an established entity operating for over three decades in Cote d’Ivoire.
He appealed for fairness from the Nigerian Embassy, stating, “We are not happy about this development because you cannot leave an institution that has been in the system for over 30 years to go and work with a group that has just been formed; they are not grounded here.”
Additionally, Urenyere urged the Nigerian Ambassador in Cote d’Ivoire to intervene, emphasising the need for unity among Nigerian supporter groups for effective mobilisation towards supporting the Super Eagles.
NFSC’s National Chairman, Amb. Samuel Ikpea, reassured their dedication to ensuring unwavering support for the Super Eagles during the tournament. He affirmed ongoing efforts to unify factions within the supporters club and collaborate with relevant stakeholders.
The AFCON tournament, commencing from Jan. 13 to Feb. 11 across five cities in Cote D’Ivoire, holds significance for Nigeria, with the Super Eagles scheduled to face Equatorial Guinea, hosts Cote D’Ivoire, and Guinea-Bissau in the group stage matches.
