Following increasing spate of insecurity in some parts of the country, the Ekiti United Football Club has pulled out of this year’s AITEO Cup.
The Ekiti State owned Football Club premised its decision to withdraw from the contest on the worsening security situation in Abuja and some neighbouring communities.
It particularly expressed concern over Kangara town being the route to Minna, Niger State capital where a 24-hour curfew has been imposed.
To this end, the football team said it will not honour the 2022 AITEO CUP playoff match against Sokoto United FC scheduled to hold in Minna, Niger State.
The Board Chairman, Ekiti United FC, Mrs. Funke Babalola said the club took the decision because of the premium it placed on the lives and safety of the players and the staff.
She said, “Hence we cannot risk any trip to any of the danger zones where there have been reported cases of insurgency, especially at this critical time when insurgents are launching onslaughts on the Nigerian Army thereby exposing citizens to risk, danger and insecurity” .
It was gathered that the club had officially written to the concerned and appropriate authorities four days ago to register its fears and displeasure at fixing the venue of a match against a northern team in the northern zone, but there has been no response from the AITEO organizers, Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) up to Friday evening, July 28, 2022.
She said, “Any inconvenience that the decision of the Management of Ekiti United on its withdrawal from the AITEO CUP 2022 is highly regretted though it’s in the interest of the entire team, Ekiti people and the state government.
