The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), the umbrella body for students in Nigeria, has issued a warning to South Africans concerning their reported threat to Nigerian goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali based on his performance in the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
In a statement signed by the Senate President of the association, Ekundina Elvis, on Friday, the students addressed the South Africans. Stanley Nwabali currently plays for Chippa United, a football club in South Africa.
While the specific details of the threat are yet to be formally reported, football observers believe that some South Africans are displeased with Nwabali’s role in preventing their team from reaching the AFCON finals. Former Super Eagles star Idah Peterside revealed the threats during an interview on Channels Television on Thursday, stating that certain fans have warned Nwabali against returning to Chippa United in South Africa after the AFCON tournament.
On receiving the hint of this threat, NANS appealed to South Africans to steer clear Nwabali, threatening that “A South African finger on Nwabali will see the beginning of shutting down of all South African businesses and interests in Nigeria.
”If Nwabali is stopped from returning to his club, we shall also stop South Africans from all benefits from Nigeria.”
The students lamented the South Africans’ threat against the goalkeeper, saying football should rather “promote friendship and not bitterness.”
“We have played in different tournaments where the Super Eagles have lost. We never channelled or blamed our performance on any country or persons outside our country.
“We have always been a chief promoter of the spirit of sportsmanship as this remains a solid avenue to spread love across the countries of the world. But we will at no time fold our arms and watch bad losers pounce on our brother for petty reasons like this.”
