NAN-S-5
AFCON
By Kemi Ajayi
Lagos, Jan. 19, 2017 (NAN) Some football match viewing centres in Lagos have lamented the absence of Nigeria at the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Gabon, saying they have poor patronage.
A Correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) who visited the centres on Wednesday, reports that the soccer fans, who usually watched Nigeria play in international matches were absent.
NAN reports that the country failed to qualify for the biggest football fiesta in the continent and were also absent at the 2015 edition in Equatorial Guinea.
Samuel Eyitayo, a viewing centre owner in Igando, told NAN that the number of viewers who turned up to watch the AFCON matches was discouraging.
“Some people are not interested in the Nations Cup mainly because Nigeria is not part of the tournament and this is not too good for my business.
“Since the competition started on Jan. 14, the number of viewers who show up for matches is nothing to write home about,’’ he said.
Also, Emmanuel Chigozie, another operator in Ikotun area of Lagos, said that most viewers had shown little interest in watching the tournament due to the nation’s absence.
“The last time Nigeria participated in the AFCON and won it, that was in 2013, I know how much I made.
“Football lovers hardly come around to watch matches, only few foreigners show up to watch their teams play,’’ he said.
In the same vein, Alabi Afeez, who runs a viewing centre in Ajegunle area of the state, said that it was demoralising that the country failed to participate in the competition for the second consecutive time.
Afeez said he would have made brisk sales if the country was part of the tournament but noted that the reverse was the case.
“At least our participation in the Nations Cup would have doubled my sales this period.
“I only make money from viewers who watch the English Premier League matches and other foreign leagues.
“We need to redeem our football otherwise I will not be surprised if we don’t qualify for the next edition,’’ he said.
Algeria and Tunisia will be locking horns by 5 p.m. on Thursday, while Senegal and Zimbabwe will engage each other by 8 p.m.
The competition is slated to end on February 5. (NAN)
KOA/ENN/PDE
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(Edited by Edwin Nwachukwu/Peter Ejiofor)