Nigerians expelled from Senegal stadium for displaying Biafra flags

Some Nigerian football fans were on Saturday expelled from a football stadium in Senegal for displaying Biafran flags.

The fans were expelled minutes after they displayed Biafran flags alongside Nigerian flags at a football match between Nigeria and Algeria at the U-23 African Cup of Nations holding in Dakar, the Senegalese capital.

There have been protests in South-East Nigeria by Igbos who demand for a separate Biafran country. Biafra was also the name adopted by the Eastern Nigeria during the civil war between 1967 and 1970, after which a ‘no victor, no vanquish’ was declared by the federal government after Biafra was defeated.


On Saturday, the Senegalese football association officials considered the display of the Biafran flags at the Leopold Sedar Senghor stadium “a militant act”.

As a result, the Vice President of the Senegalese Football Federation, FSF, Amadou Kane, who was in charge of the organisation, ordered security officials to respond by tearing down the Biafran flags and posters and expelling the supporters involved.

Senegalese FA officials said the group took advantage of the presence of the media at the stadium to raise the Biafran flag.

Dressed in T-shirts with the Biafra logo, eye witnesses said the group “invaded” the left wing of the covered pavilion to flaunt the Biafran flag alongside that of Nigeria. They later displayed a large flag calling for Biafran autonomy.

The match eventually ended 0-0 with Nigeria coming second in Group B with five points, behind Algeria.
Nigeria will face Senegal in the semi-final next week while Algeria will battle South Africa.

'Let's make Fifa respectable' - Platini to stand for presidency

Michel Platini, the president of Uefa, has announced he will launch an election campaign as he bids to become Sepp Blatter's successor at Fifa.

An election will be held at an Extraordinary Congress on February 26 to decide Blatter's successor after he announced he will step down as president of football's world governing body.

Blatter's decision to step down came in the wake of a corruption probe in which 14 people, including nine Fifa officials, were indicted on charges of racketeering, conspiracy and corruption.

Reus flattered by interest...but won't leave Dortmund - agent

Marco Reus' agent says there is no chance the winger will leave Borussia Dortmund this summer.

The 26-year-old ended speculation over his future by signing a new contract in February, but has again been linked with other clubs after Dortmund failed to qualify for the Champions League.

However, his agency, SportsTotal, insist he is perfectly happy at Signal Iduna Park.

Mourinho launches stinging attack on Benitez

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has unleashed a stunning attack on Real Madrid counterpart Rafael Benitez, claiming he "destroyed" his Inter team and even poking fun at his weight.

Benitez's wife, Montserrat Seara, caused a stir when she claimed her husband is always tidying up after Mourinho, having coached Inter, Chelsea and now Madrid after the Portuguese.

Those comments have provoked a stinging response from the Blues boss, who pointed to the fact Benitez was sacked just six months into his spell at Inter having taken over a treble-winning team.