Sports minister, Barrister Solomon Dalung has disclosed that the federal government will not stop the Super Eagles from playing an international friendly against DR Congo in Port Harcourt next Monday, despite a fresh outbreak of Ebola in the visitors’ country.
Rather than stop the game, due to fear of another Ebola transmission in Nigeria, Dalung said several preventive measures have been put in place, among which are providing a centralised flight for the visitors to Nigeria as well as to ensure that everyone on board is screened both on departure and arrival.
Speaking after meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday in Abuja, Dalung stressed that the outbreak of the disease will not stop the friendly match.
Dalung said an arrangement has been put in place to screen The Leopards, their officials and fans for traces of Ebola virus before leaving DRC on flight and on landing in Nigeria.
He stressed that any player who fails to make the trip through the special flight will not be allowed into Nigeria and will be prevented from playing the match, which is billed for Adokiye Amasiamaka Stadium, Port Harcourt next Monday.
Dalung further said sports administrators in the country are working in collaboration with the Ministry of Health to introduce strict screening policies for the match to take place.
The minister also enthused that the Eagles will be in Russia to win the World Cup, not as mere participants to make up the numbers, and expressed satisfaction with the selection process of players by the team’s technical adviser, Gernot Rohr.
