Following the bomb explosion that rocked the football viewing center in Damaturu, Yobe State Tuesday evening, June 17 which killed over 14 people and injured several others, according to police claim, the Super Eagles on Wednesday said that the attack has given them added determination to perform well in Brazil.
Damaturu Bomb Explosion
It was reported that the tragedy occurred around 8pm after the Brazil vs Mexico match at the World Cup game when the explosive being planted in a car parked outside the viewing point exploded in the midst of a crowd watching the football match.
The players held a minute’s silence before they started training under the floodlights in Campinas, outside Sao Paulo, on Wednesday.
“It’s unfortunate, especially as it concerns football,” said team media officer Ben Alaiya of the attack.
“It further boosts the determination of the players to do well against Bosnia and win for them because it’s the love of football that led to so many people dying, while they were watching the game. It’s sad that it happened.”
Nigeria play their next Group F game against Bosnia in Cuiaba on Saturday.
Nearly all of the Nigerian squad play in European and other foreign teams. But Alaiya said football is a unifying force in the West African nation.
“We want to win, want to do well for those lives that were lost and for the Nigerian people who have seen football as a force to bring them together all the times,” added the spokesman.
“It’s shocking that some people could engage in such callous acts against their fellow human beings at a time that the world is in celebration mood for the biggest sport in the world.
“Our heart goes out to them. We feel very pained and we want to win for them. Even if we win the trophy it will not bring back lives that were lost.
Recently, football viewing centres have been a target of bomb explosion. It would be recalled in May, an explosion rocked a football viewing centre in Jos when the explosive also planted in a parked car exploded, where people gathered to watch the final of UEFA Champions League.
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As a result of the bombing of football viewing centres the police spokes person, Frank Mba has urged football fans to abstain from visiting crowded viewing centres rather they should watch the FIFA World Cup matches at home, with families and friends.
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