The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has voiced its frustration following a mix-up orchestrated by the Beninoise Football Federation, which led to the playing of the outdated Nigerian national anthem before Monday’s FIFA World Cup qualifying match in Abidjan.
Dayo Enebi Achor, the NFF’s Head of International Competitions, expressed disappointment at the oversight, revealing that the NFF had diligently provided a recording of the current national anthem of Nigeria to the Benin FA officials during the Match Coordination Meeting held in Abidjan on Sunday evening.
Amidst the unfolding spectacle on the field, Dayo Enebi Achor, NFF’s Head of International Competitions, revealed the intensity of the situation. Despite the meticulous efforts made by the NFF to provide the Benin FA authorities with a recording of Nigeria’s current national anthem, there was a glaring error as the outdated anthem blared through the stadium speakers at the start of the match.
In response to this grievous error, the NFF adamantly protested, asserting that the Super Eagles would not resume play for the second half until the correct national anthem was played. This firm stance underscored the importance of national pride and protocol, demanding due respect for Nigeria’s anthem on the global stage.
After a tense standoff, the Benin FA authorities relented, finally rectifying the mistake by playing the new national anthem of Nigeria before the commencement of the second half. This belated correction offered a semblance of closure to the incident, albeit highlighting the necessity for meticulous attention to detail in such high-stakes international competitions.
