Being the giant spoilsports they are, the Russian government have prohibited Nigeria fans from taking live chickens into their opening World Cup game this weekend.
The Super Eagles are due to play Croatia in Group D on Saturday night, but local ministers have said that their feathered good luck charms will not be allowed to pass through the turnstiles with them at the Kaliningrad Stadium.
Speaking to the Interfax news agency (via AS), Andrei Ermak, Kaliningrad’s minister for culture, said:
Fans from Nigeria asked if it’s possible to go to the stadium with a chicken.
We told them that it is not possible.
Succinct. Little room for misinterpretation.
However, proving that he’s not a hardliner on the issue, Ermak also added that he will soon advise Nigerian fans as to the areas of the city that they will be allowed to carry chickens while supporting their side.
Abattoir district, if we had to guess.