Ebola: FIFA Threatens To Disqualify Super Eagles

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FIFA threatens to disqualify the Nigerian Super Eagles if any of the players wears unacceptable gear in the first leg qualifier of the 2015 African Cup of Nations (AFCON).

Before even starting the fight for the championship in the upcoming tournament, the Eagles’ are already cautioned against being disqualified in the today’s match Nigeria-Congo, Nigerian Tribune reports.

Ahead of the match to be held September 6 in Calabar English Premiership sides, Chelsea and Manchester City, provided both Mikel and Yaya Toure (Ivory Coast) with special kits expected to protect them from the virus during AFCON qualifiers.

However the international football body reportedly warned both Nigeria and Ivorian federations they should comply with the dressing code of the tournament as they wrote:

“FIFA only permits players to wear a cap that covers their head to the hairline, but does not extend below the ears to cover the neck. We don’t condone an infringement of the Laws of the Game. The match commissioner and match referee for the Afcon qualifiers will apply correctly the Laws of the game.”

It would be recalled that days ago the team’s John Mikel Obi arrived at the training camp in hand gloves and made jokes about Ebola virus currently ravaging West Africa. He told the Eagles’ head coach Stepeh Keshi

“Coach I have up to four hand gloves and if you don’t mind, I can hand one pair to you.”

As for the upcoming game, it has been recently made known that the victorious Nigerian goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama will miss the first AFCON game for personal reasons, however no further details were provided on the issue.

Despite this hardship, CSKA Moscow Striker Ahmed Musa expressed his confidence in the Super Eagles’ victory this Saturday saying:

“We already know ourselves and we know that we will win on Saturday.”