15,000 security police Eagles

Close to 15,000 security operatives kept vigil at the Abuja National Stadium before, during and after the match sensing that there will be reprisal attack on the players and coaches.

Every section of the stadium was cordoned off by plain clothes and uniformed police men all fully armed who were seen in their twos and threes walking around the premises.

Each of the nine exit gates had a retinue of officials as many as 15 all around the stand with pick-up vans ready to pick up anyone who misbehaves.

At the entrance of each gate, even though the traffic was not much as many as three plain clothes prior to the match took their turns to identify and search vehicles and those inside before allowing them in.

It must be stated here that after Nigeria’s 2-2 draw with Tunisia Abuja fans pelted missiles at the players and the bus that was conveying back to their Nicon Hilton hotel the security network was beefed up to avoid a reoccurrence.