Journalists Barred from Super Eagles’ Training at Mobolaji Johnson Arena

On Wednesday, journalists were denied access to the Mobolaji Johnson Arena in Lagos, where the Super Eagles were scheduled to have their regular training session ahead of their highly anticipated 2023 AFCON qualifier against Sierra Leone in Monrovia on Sunday.

The Eagles’ media officer, Femi Raji, had sent a WhatsApp message to journalists, providing details about the training session.

The message, dated June 14, 2023, stated that the training would commence at 5:50 pm at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena and explicitly mentioned media access.

Around 5 pm, after the local match had concluded, security personnel at the stadium, including soldiers, police officers, and Lagos Neighbourhood Safety Corps officials, instructed journalists to leave the premises. A police officer, referring to a new directive from the Chief Security Officer of the Super Eagles, announced that all press personnel must vacate the stadium immediately.

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Despite protests from the journalists, who asserted that they had been invited to cover the event, their pleas were disregarded by the security personnel. Even the identity cards displayed by the reporters were met with refusal and denial.

Undeterred, some of the journalists remained outside the stadium gate, holding onto the hope that they would be allowed entry once the Super Eagles arrived for their training session.

However, their optimism was met with disappointment as the security personnel persisted in denying them access.

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