They may be the most enviously attired fans at this year's World Cup in Russia, but for Nigeria's travelling contingent, they have been dealt a blow ahead of the team's opening fixture against Croatia tomorrow.
Placed in a difficult group that also includes Argentina and Iceland, BBC reports have confirmed that "Nigeria fans have been banned from taking live chickens into the ground."
Whether or not that chickens had already been sourced remains uncertain, but a certain section of Nigeria fans considered them a 'lucky' omen that will not be denied them.
Painting the chickens the green-and-white colours of their team's home strip, Nigeria's Daily Post revealed details of what Andrei Ernak, Russia's Minister of Culture and Tourism, has encouraged Nigeria's fans to do in order to find some compromise:
So, fans from Nigeria asked whether it is possible to go to the stadium with a chicken. This is their symbol, citizens are seen with them in all matches. We told them that it’s by no means possible to come with a live chicken.
But if the Nigerians are rooting for their team in other places, we will of course advise them where the chicken can be bought.
So, chickens will remain available for purchase, but there will be no bringing them into Russia's World Cup grounds.
