{"id":880899,"date":"2025-12-27T00:16:17","date_gmt":"2025-12-27T06:16:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/2025\/12\/27\/exclusive-supporters-club-debunks-claim-super-eagles-of-nigeria-are-at-afcon-without-fans\/"},"modified":"2025-12-27T00:16:17","modified_gmt":"2025-12-27T06:16:17","slug":"exclusive-supporters-club-debunks-claim-super-eagles-of-nigeria-are-at-afcon-without-fans","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/2025\/12\/27\/exclusive-supporters-club-debunks-claim-super-eagles-of-nigeria-are-at-afcon-without-fans\/","title":{"rendered":"Exclusive: Supporters\u2019 club debunks claim Super Eagles of Nigeria are at AFCON without fans"},"content":{"rendered":"

Soccer <\/p>\n

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\"Soccer<\/p>\n

Nigeria Super Eagles fans. Photo by Segun Ogunfeyitimi. Copyright: xAMADAxMASARUxIMAGO<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Contrary to widespread social media reports, Nigeria are not the first country to attend the Africa Cup of Nations<\/a> without supporters, Soccernet.ng can exclusively report.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Claims circulating on platforms such as Instablog and Mr Nigerian Football suggested that the Super Eagles were competing at AFCON 2025 in Morocco without any official fans in attendance.<\/p>\n

However, the Deputy President of the All Supporters Club of Nigeria, Alhaji Alao, has firmly dismissed the reports as false.<\/p>\n

\"Soccer
Final Nigeria fans during the Unity Cup Final, London 2025 match between Jamaica and Nigeria. Copyright: xToyinxOshodi<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Speaking exclusively to Soccernet.ng in Morocco, Alhaji Alao revealed that Nigerian supporters are already present in the host country, while more fans\u2014including official band members\u2014are currently en route.<\/p>\n

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\u201cThat news is a big lie,\u201d Alao said. \u201cI am the Deputy President of the All Supporters Club, and I am here in Morocco. Members of the Interim Management Committee are here, and officials of the supporters\u2019 groups are also present.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Soccer Why Nigerian sections appear empty vs Tanzania<\/h2>\n

Nigeria\u2019s opening group game against Tanzania sparked online debate after noticeable vacant seats appeared in sections usually occupied by Nigerian fans, with no visible drum bands or trumpeters.<\/p>\n

According to Alhaji Alao, the situation was due to logistical challenges surrounding ticketing and seating arrangements for the band boys, not the absence of supporters.<\/p>\n

\"Soccer
Football fans during Nigeria vs Tanzania game. Photo by Ayomide Oguntimehin\/ Soccernet.ng<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

He explained that while some band members gained access into the stadium, others were denied entry, forcing supporters\u2019 leaders to seek intervention from the National Sports Commission (NSC).<\/p>\n

Soccer NSC sponsors band boys\u2019 travel<\/h2>\n

Alhaji Alao disclosed that the NSC stepped in to sponsor 18 band boys across various registered supporters\u2019 groups, including three from the All Supporters Club.<\/p>\n

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\u201cThe NSC has sponsored the band boys \u2014 trumpeters and drummers,\u201d he said. \u201cThey left Nigeria this morning. Some are already in Casablanca, some are on flights, and others are on their way to Fes.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

He assured fans that the Super Eagles will enjoy full vocal and instrumental backing when they face Tunisia on December 27.<\/p>\n

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\u201cFor the next game, we promise everybody will be in the stadium \u2014 including the band boys,\u201d Alao added.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Watch the video here:<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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Soccer Supporters already in Morocco<\/h2>\n

The supporters\u2019 leader further stressed that Nigeria was never without fans at the tournament, noting that although turnout was limited against Tanzania, Nigerian supporters were still present inside the stadium.<\/p>\n

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\u201cThere were few fans against Tanzania, but Nigerians were there,\u201d he said. \u201cSome supporters arrived earlier, others are still coming.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Alhaji Alao concluded by urging Nigerians to disregard reports claiming the Super Eagles have no supporters at AFCON, describing the story as fake news.<\/p>\n

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\u201cI want Nigerians to know that Nigeria is not without fans at this AFCON,\u201d he said. \u201cThat story is completely false.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

\"Soccer
Photo Credit: Akor Adams X<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Super Eagles of Nigeria will tackle Tunisia tomorrow, and many will be on the watch for these supporters to cheer on the Nigerian team during the game.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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\"<!--Ayomide Oguntimehin” src=”https:\/\/soccernet.ng\/app\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Ayomide-Oguntimehin-pics-150×150.jpg” height=”80″ width=”80″>\t\t<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\t\t\tAyomide Oguntimehin\t\t\t\t<\/a>
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\n\t\t\t\tAyomide Oguntimehin is a CAF-accredited sports journalist and Editor at Soccernet.ng. He has interviewed Super Eagles stars like William Troost-Ekong, Taiwo Awoniyi, Bright Osayi-Samuel, and Ademola Lookman, and is known for breaking major transfer stories.<\/p>\n

Ayomide has worked with Sports Brief, Naija News and served as Social Lead Editor at Legit.ng. He has also featured on Goal, TVC News, Sports Mole, and Milan News24. He holds a Master\u2019s degree and is currently pursuing a PhD. Follow Ayomide on X (formerly Twitter): @ayo_oguntimehin\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

Read More<\/a>Ayomide Oguntimehin<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Soccer Nigeria Super Eagles fans. Photo by Segun Ogunfeyitimi. Copyright: xAMADAxMASARUxIMAGO Contrary to widespread social media reports, Nigeria are not the first country to attend the Africa Cup of Nations without supporters, Soccernet.ng can exclusively report. Claims circulating on platforms such as Instablog and Mr Nigerian Football suggested that the Super Eagles were competing at […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":880900,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[365,2005,25],"tags":[6246,5108],"class_list":{"0":"post-880899","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-exclusive","8":"category-soccer","9":"category-supporters","10":"tag-exclusive","11":"tag-supporters"},"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/880899","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=880899"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/880899\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/880900"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=880899"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=880899"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=880899"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}