African football’s governing body on Monday fined Nigeria $5,000 for overcrowding and lack of security during their 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Egypt.
CAF imposed the fine at a disciplinary meeting in Johannesburg, South Africa, threatening “sanctions will be applied” if there was any repeat.
The fine worsens Nigeria’s football woes and comes after the Super Eagles failed to qualify for AFCON for the second consecutive time.
Specifically, the fine itself was imposed for the first leg of the Super Eagles clash against the Pharoahs at the 15,000-capity Ahmadu Bello Stadum in Kaduna on March 25.
The Super Eagles needed to win the game to boost their chance of qualifying for the tournament and fans desperate to support the team had crowded the stadium with hundreds climbing flood lights and other structures at the stadium to get a view.
It is believed that more than 40,000 spectators crammed into the stadium with the decision of the Kaduna State government to allow fans watch the match for free believed to have contributed to the situation.
Despite the massive support, the Super Eagles failed to overcome the Pharoahs, settling for a 1-1 draw instead.
The 1-1 draw had left Egypt top of Group C with seven points with the Eagles in second place with five points.
A 1-0 loss in the return leg in Egypt ended any hope the Super Eagles had, leaving a football-loving nation disappointed once again.
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