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By Amaechi Agbo

The hope of millions of Nigerians to see the return of football and other sporting activities in the country after 6 months hiatus has been dashed after the federal government made a U-turn on the reopening of sporting activities including football in the country, Bestchoicesports.com.ng can report

The federal government through its Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, PTF on Sunday had announced the reopening of sporting activities including football in the country after they were suspended in March following the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic.

However, in is weekly briefing on Thursday, September 10, the PTF reversed the reopening and apologized to Nigeria’s over the situation.

While briefing Nigerians on current situation of the pandemic and return of contact sports, PTF Coordinator, Dr Sani Aliyu said it was not safe yet for contact sports to resume.

“I am a football fan but sadly we have not allowed contact sports.

“Football is not included (in activities that have reopened) So we have only allowed non contact sports,” he said Thursday.

Adding “So all those football fans, sorry, it is not yet time but we are looking at this.

“But we will continue relaxing when the time comes and it is safe to do so.”

Nigerians were happy when on Sunday the PTF said that football and other contact sports can return in the country.

In announcing the cheering news to Nigerian sportsmen and women, the PTF Coordinator, Dr Sani Aliyu had said “Restriction is removed on outdoor communal (non-contact) sports and use of recreational parks for supervised physical exercise; and
Sporting leagues to resume with no fans in stadiums and with necessary NPIs to be directed by the Federal Ministry of Sports and Youth Development and the NCDC.”

Nigeria leagues; Nigeria Professional Football League, NPFL; the Nigeria Women’s Football League, NWFL; the Nigeria National League, NNL and the Nationwide League One, NLO are all expected to resume by October.