Nigerian football fans were informed that they would not be allowed to bring live chickens to match venues when the Super Eagles play.
The three-time African champions opened their Group D opening campaign on Saturday, June 16, against European giants Croatia at the Kaliningrad Stadium, in a match they lost 2-0.
According to Russian news outfit, Interfax.ru, Kaliningrad region’s Minister of Culture and Tourism Andrei Ermak told reporters.
“Our information center MCH-2018 receives a lot of various questions: fans from Nigeria asked if it’s possible to go to the stadium with a chicken, it’s their symbol, the citizens are sick with them at all matches, we told them that to pass a live chicken, in any case, it is impossible," said Ermak.
He further stated that the Super Eagles fans will be shown where they can buy live chickens should they be taken to other regions: “We will, of course, advise them where the chicken can be bought. We are ready to satisfy the most eccentric inquiries,” the regional minister added.
Nigeria’s fans are known for going into match venues with live chickens, which is one of the ways they cheer on the team to victory.
In 2010, the South African government also denied the country’s fans the opportunity to bring chickens painted in the nation’s colours into the stadium.