Football fans in Maiduguri expressed anger on Tuesday after the final of a local tournament was suspended at the last minute, on alleged orders from the Borno State Commissioner for Sports and Youth Development, Sa’ina Buba.
The match, scheduled at the Elkanemi Warriors Sports Center, was stopped without an official explanation.
Fans, players, and officials who had gathered for the game said the decision disrupted sporting activities in the state.
“You can see people trooping into this place from all parts of the city, only for us to hear that the Director of Sports has transmitted a directive from the Commissioner of Sports to halt the matches,” said Audu Mohammed, a fan.
It is alleged that a letter notifying and inviting the commissioner had been sent six days earlier.
“We are not happy with the commissioner. What he did is frustrating because he made us waste our time and resources to come here,” said another fan, Saleh Mamman.
Several attendees alleged this was not the first time the commissioner had interfered with football events.
“I am not even surprised because he has done this many times in the past and we are tired of it. I don’t even understand why a sports commissioner will be sabotaging what he is hired to protect and develop,” said one fan who requested anonymity.
A player, who also declined to be named, warned that stopping football matches could have wider consequences for youth in the state.
“Football all over the world is the tool that holds the youth together. Without it, they will channel their energy to other things, mostly evil or bad activities,” he said.
He explained explain further saying “we have a huge jobless youth population in Maiduguri. Football is the only thing that keeps these youth busy or distracted, so anything that would discourage footballing activities in the state is not only bad for sports but youth coordination and development.”
Some fans were heard hurling insults at the commissioner at the venue, while others left in disappointment.
An official at the center said the situation could have escalated without security presence.
“We are not happy seeing how these young people are throwing insults on the commissioner, but there is nothing we can do about it. His decision to stop the match at the last minute is a bad idea, and if not because of the security presence here, these angry fans would have caused damage to this facility,” the official said.
The final between Qatar Football Academy and CP Strikers was later moved to Ramat Square in the evening.
The third-place match between FC Karimo and Mafa United, scheduled for 2 PM, remained suspended.
