The Nigeria Football Federation and the Office of the Inspector-General of Police, have dispatched to world football-governing body, FIFA, a detailed security guarantee and comprehensive plan for
security for next month’s 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifying match between the Super Eagles and Flames of Malawi in Calabar.

In the letter of security guarantee signed by the Deputy Inspector-General of Police Philemon I. Leha, on behalf of the IGP’s the Nigeria Police assured “all stakeholders and lovers of football that the Force will provide adequate security to ensure a conducive environment before, during and after the match between Nigeria and Malawi scheduled for 7th September, 2013 at the U. J. Esuene Stadium, Calabar, Cross River State.”

NFF’s Acting General Secretary, Dr. Emmanuel Ikpeme, alongside Secretary of the NFF Security Committee, Dr. Christian Emeruwa, spent the better part of yesterday at the Force Headquarters perfecting the security guarantee with top officers.

The guarantee explained that apart from routine police lead escorts and back-up vehicles for both teams and match officials from point of arrival to point of departure, all hotels and training grounds to be used would be adequately fortified.The letter also informed FIFA that ACP Gideon Akinsola, FIFA National Security Officer in Nigeria, would be on duty at the big match.

Recall that the 12,000-capacity stadium has hosted several international matches involving Nigeria in the past, including previous 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Namibia and Kenya, as well as 2013 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Rwanda and Liberia, but the Football Association of Malawi, inexplicably, scurried to FIFA to express unfounded fears.

Next month’s game has assumed some importance as only two points separate the Super Eagles from the Flames at the top of Group F, with the Eagles needing only a draw to reach the 10-team final elimination round and the Malawians needing a win.

FIFA had written to the Nigeria Football Federation on Monday to provide a letter of security guarantee from the appropriate authority in Nigeria as well as a detailed security plan for the qualifying match.