As Nigeria prepares to host Rwanda and South Africa in its opening matches of the CAF 2026 World Cup qualifiers, the Nigeria Association of National Professional Footballers (NANPF) has urged the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to prioritize stadium safety and enhance the overall fan experience.
The Director for Safety and Player Welfare, CSP Chijioke Kalu, appealed in a statement on Friday in Abuja.
He was speaking ahead of Nigeria’s matches against Rwanda on Saturday in Uyo and South Africa on Tuesday.
Kalu said the NFF must ensure that ticketing procedures are well managed to support effective crowd control and create a child-friendly stadium atmosphere.
He said children should feel safe attending matches with their families to build a stronger fan culture in the future.
Kalu commended the facilities at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, describing it as one of the best in the world in terms of infrastructure and crowd control architecture.
He, however, noted that the ticketing and stadium access system must match international standards in safety and user experience.
He also called on the NFF to deploy sufficient volunteers to assist with crowd management across key access points in and around the stadium.
The Super Eagles will face Rwanda on Saturday and host South Africa on Tuesday as part of their CAF 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign.
