Death Threats for Sani Kaiti, Nigerian Soccer Player, Over Key Mistake; Team Asks Government for Protection

JOHANNESBURG (CBS/AP) The Nigerian soccer team has asked its government to provide security for midfielder Sani Kaita after his red card during a World Cup loss to Greece prompted more than 1,000 death threats.

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In the most prominent case of an international player being targeted after a World Cup, Colombia defender Andres Escobar was shot and killed in his home country days after his own-goal helped the United States defeat the Colombians 2-1 in a major upset in 1994.

On Monday, ESPN premiered "The Two Escobars," a documentary that chronicled Colombia's 1994 World Cup team and the relationship of sports and criminal gangs, particularly that of notorious drug kingpin Pablo Escobar.

In a recent case of players being the targets of violence in Africa, the Togo national team withdrew from the 2010 African Cup of Nations at Angola in January following an attack by gunmen on its team bus in which two officials died.

As for the death threats against Nigeria's Kaitia, team spokesman Idah Peterside said the player has received the threats via e-mail from Nigeria since he was sent off for kicking out at Greece's Vassilis Torosidis in the 33rd minute of last Thursday's 2-1 loss.

"We just hope that the government will treat these threats as a serious matter," Peterside told The Associated Press on Sunday.

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 Nigerian player. Peterside said the threats were a result of frustration by some fans in the football-mad West African nation.

Nigeria lost its first two matches at the World Cup and ultimately failed to advance out of the first round.