The Nigerian team has asked its government to provide security for midfielder Sani Kaita after his red card during their World Cup loss to Greece prompted more than 1,000 death threats.
Nigeria team spokesman Idah Peterside said Kaita has received the death threats via e-mail from Nigeria since he was sent off for kicking out at Greece’s Vassilis Torosidis in the 33rd minute of Thursday’s 2-1 loss in Bloemfontein.
“We just hope that the government will treat these threats as a serious matter,” Peterside said on Sunday.
Nigeria’s Sports Minister Ibrahim Bio is staying at the team’s hotel in South Africa and has been alerted to the threats, Peterside said.
“I’m confident that they are going to do something about it,” Peterside said. “The minister has told us that these things happen, that they are actions of some overzealous fans and we must not worry about it.”
South Africa police spokesman Vishnu Naidoo said all teams at the World Cup were receiving adequate protection and he hadn’t received any reports of threats against the Nigeria player.
Peterside said the threats were a result of frustration by some fans in the soccer-mad West African nation.
Kaita, who is contracted to Monaco, but on loan to Russian club Alania Vladikavkaz, could decide to go to Europe after the World Cup rather than return to Nigeria.
Nigeria lost their opening match 1-0 to Argentina in Rustenburg and were leading Greece 1-0, before Kaita was given a straight red card.
The Greeks scored their first goals and rallied to capture their first ever win at the World Cup.
“A lot of people think we are already out of the World Cup, and they are just showing the frustration and pain of having so much hope in the Eagles,” Peterside said. “It’s just a country that’s passionate about football and it’s showing in the reactions, but we are not taking these threats lightly at all.”
Security has been increased around the Nigeria team’s base in Durban, but Peterside doesn’t believe the team is under any serious threat while in South Africa.
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