THE Confederation of African Football (CAF) has given its approval to the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) to allow a section of fans into the stadium for the AFCON qualifiers between the Super Eagles and Likuena at the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Nigeria on March 30.

The meeting between Likuena and the Leone Stars of Sierra Leone which is scheduled for March 27 will however, be played behind closed doors at the Setsoto Stadium in Maseru.

Sierra Leone coach John Keister has since announced a 26-man squad, plus eight players on standby ahead of their Total Africa Cup of Nations, Cameroon 2021 Group L qualifying matches against Lesotho and Benin.

With the Super Eagles making a return to Lagos for the first time in 20 years, the country’s football body was hopeful a chunk of the fans will be present to see the game and CAF has given them the all-clear.

 The Executive Chairman of the Lagos State Sports Commission, Shola Aiyepeku, disclosed that arrangements are already in place to host about 8 000 fans for the game.

 “CAF has approved that we should have 30 percent capacity at the stadium and we are looking at about 8 000. So, it won’t be a full house but that will be much easier for us to manage with the COVID-19 protocols.

“We have designed protocols already to ensure people don’t gather in one place at a time so these arrangements will be done before then and I can assure you that Lagos is very much ready,” Shola said.

When the Super Eagles meet Likuena at the Teslim Balogun Stadium on March 30, that will be the Nigerians final game of the 2021AFCON qualifiers.       

It will, however, be a sad day in Maseru on March 27 when local fans will not be allowed to watch Likuena battle the visiting Leone Stars.