Nigeria/Mozambique match: Ticket vendors lament low patronage

The Super Eagles will today host the Mambas of Mozambique in a second leg encounter of the 2010 World Cup qualifier at the Abuja National Stadium.One of the vendors, Orji Isaac, said that he had recorded poor sales compared with previous Super Eagles’ matches. “I have been here since morning and people are not patronising […]

The Super Eagles will today host the Mambas of Mozambique in a second leg encounter of the 2010 World Cup qualifier at the Abuja National Stadium.One of the vendors, Orji Isaac, said that he had recorded poor sales compared with previous Super Eagles’ matches.

“I have been here since morning and people are not patronising me; instead, they have been abusing me for selling the tickets,’’ Isaac said.He said the response from fans was that the Super Eagles had disappointed Nigerians.

“They have been querying why they will spend their money on tickets for the qualifier,’’ Isaac said.Another vendor, Okolo Martins, said that he regretted selling the ticket.

“I regret doing it because nobody is ready to buy the tickets; I am tired and ready to go home.“Many of us here have not sold one ticket since morning,’’ Martins said.

The Super Eagles drew 2-2 with the Carthage Eagles of Tunisia when Nigeria needed a win to brighten their chances of qualifying for the 2010 World Cup.  A soccer fan, Esther Ajisefini, regretted the outcome of the Nigeria/Tunisia match on Sept. 6.

She said that the Super Eagles had failed to put the nation in celebration mood.Asked why she would not want to buy the ticket for the match, Ajisefini said: “There is no need buying the ticket because I do not want to waste my time.

“I have already concluded in my mind that the Super Eagles will not qualify for the 2010 World cup in South Africa.’’Ajisefini said that she would only support the Super Eagles from her home and would not bother herself coming to the stadium to cheer them up.

“I do not want to associate myself with the team because the players have failed Nigerians.“I will prefer to support them from home,’’ she said.Earlier, the Super Eagles’ Chief Coach, Shaibu Amodu, had told newsmen that those who would come to support the Super Eagles on Sunday were the true supporters of the team.

Amodu said the team would remain focused to win their remaining two qualifying matches.“It is not over until it is over,’’ he said, adding that the Super Eagles were prepared for Mozambique.