Sports Ministry, NFF to give 20,000 free tickets to Super Eagles fans ahead of Ghana cracker

The Ministry of Youth and Sports Development and the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) have teamed up to buy 20,000 tickets for fans ahead of the second-leg cracker between Nigeria and Ghana.

The tickets will be given out free of charge to everyone willing to support the Super Eagles at the Moshood Abiola Stadium on Tuesday, March 29.

The move is in a bid to ensure that the 60,000 capacity Stadium is filled to the brim when the Black Stars of Ghana coming visiting for the return leg on Tuesday.

The Minister of Youth and Sports Development Hon. Sunday Dare made this announcement on Sunday evening in a joint meeting between his Ministry and the NFF.

According to a press release from the NFF Communications Department, the Minister said: "We will buy 20,000 of the tickets and give to fans at designated centres on Monday and Tuesday morning. We want to ensure maximum support for the Super Eagles by filling up the stands.

"The NFF have done well to secure maximum capacity of the Moshood Abiola National Stadium for the match. This move will guarantee us a full house, if you also consider the efforts that the ticket rights holder, Africa Independent Television have been making on their own."

The 2nd Vice President of the NFF, Mallam Shehu Dikko hoped that the gesture would give the Super Eagles the 'maximum' support they need to clinch Nigeria's seventh appearance at the FIFA World Cup finals.

“It is a very big match and we need the maximum support for our team. The players have expressed a desire for full house, just as the Ghanaians had in Kumasi. We want to thank the Ministry for initiating this move," Dikko said.

The NFF had earlier been granted permission by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to fill the Moshood Abiola Stadium to its maximum capacity of 60,000 for the return leg against the Ghanaians.

The FCT Minister has also promised to provide 100 free buses to carry Super Eagles fans from various parts of Abuja to the Moshood Abiola Stadium on Tuesday.