Soccer Players Turning Nigeria Gay Government Says
by 365Gay.com Newscenter Staff

Posted: September 29, 2004 8:19 pm ET

(Abuja) The Nigerian government is telling soccer players to stop wearing hair braids, dreadlocks, and earrings.

Many of Nigeria's top players, including national team captain Jay-Jay Okocha and top striker Nwankwo Kanu, have their hair braided.

"Our youths are now taking after our great [soccer] stars... don't forget that in the developing world that the braiding of hair and ear-rings have a sense of homosexuality," Otunba Olusegun Runshewe, a leading government official told Nigerian television.

One senior football official has followed Runshewe's pronouncement by ordering the removal of braids from players hair at an upcoming junior tournament. He said their behavior was not culturally acceptable and " promoted homosexuality" among young people.

However not every Nigerian football fan agreed, one fan said: "I don't see it as if these guys are gay. I see them portraying Africa culture in another perspective."

©365Gay.com 2004