By Dayo Awoniyi
Nigeria are preparing for a crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying match against Zimbabwe on Tuesday, with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) sparing no effort to ensure a full house at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo.
To encourage fan attendance, the NFF has announced that the first 500 ticket buyers will receive a free Super Eagles’ home jersey as part of their campaign to boost support for the national team.
Dr. Mohammed Sanusi, the NFF General Secretary, called on Nigerians to turn out in large numbers, drawing inspiration from the passionate Rwandan supporters who packed the Amahoro Stadium during the Super Eagles’ match against Rwanda on Friday.
Sanusi further encouraged fans to don the national colors and bring their drums and dances to the stadium, fostering a lively atmosphere for the players.
In addition to the jersey giveaway, the NFF confirmed that match tickets will be available for purchase on match day. VIP tickets will be priced at N3,000, while regular seats will cost N1,000.
With the NFF’s concerted efforts to energize the fan base, expectations are high as the Super Eagles aim for a commanding victory over Zimbabwe to strengthen their position in the World Cup qualifiers.
Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. On the back of domestic engagement since 2008, he began his international career journey at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.
