The government of Akwa Ibom State has gone a step further in boosting safety of the Super Eagles in Uyo, as operatives of Department of State Security (DSS) have been called in to maintain order round the team.
Information reaching footballlive.ng from the Akwa Ibom State capital indicates that the DSS operatives commenced full duties on Thursday, to ensure strict adherence to the Eagles’ closed door training regime.
It was gathered further that even journalists were not spared from the menacing presence of the security personnel, as even gentlemen of the media were prevented from watching the Eagles’ closed door training.
It would be recalled that Eagles’ media officer, Toyin Ibitoye had stated at the start of camping on Monday that only the team’s training sessions on Tuesday and Wednesday would be open to the public.
Ibitoye stated at that time that the training would be closed to the public and media on Thursday and Friday, in order to allow the technical adviser, Gernot Rohr start his tactical plans for Saturday’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in secret.
Ibitoye, though, assured the media that they would be allowed only 15 minutes to watch the Eagles and get some chats with the players on Friday, when the team line out for their first and only feel of the mainbowl pitch at Godswill Akpabio International Stadium.
The arena will host the match against Libya on Saturday, starting at 4pm (Nigeria time), and the Eagles will follow international match regulations by having only one feel of the turf 24 hours before the game.
