Salisu Await France Visa
The interim consortium of Super Eagles are still anxiously waiting for acquisition of entry visas to France to confirm their flight for this month’s back-to-back international friendlies against Mali and Luxemburg.
Though May 23rd had earlier been forwarded as the likely date for their flight to Paris, ahead of the arrival of all foreign-based players on May 25th, SportsDay has gathered on good authority that the trip is yet to be confirmed.
Rather, officials of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) are still leaving their options open for schedules ranging from May 22 to 24 for their trip, which is most likely to be aboard Air France.
SportsDay gathered further that, apart from interim head coach, Salisu Yusuf and his assistants, NFF technical committee chairman, Barrister Chris Green is among the long list of officials who applied for entry visas two weeks ago at the embassy of France in Abuja.
The delayed visa acquisition, though, has left the NFF’s hands tied in fixing a definite departure date for the coaches, who will be joined by medical personnel, backroom staff and other officials.
They are billed to travel out of Abuja alongside the only home-based player on the list of invitees, sunshine stars of Akure goalkeeper, Ikechukwu Ezenwa.
However, when contacted for an explanation of the delay, Eagles media officer, Toyin Ibitoye said there is no cause for alarm and hinted that the visas would be acquired in the next few days.
Ibitoye also doused fears over any vacuum created by the unavailability of CSKA Moscow of Russia striker, Aaron Samuel Olanere, who has been ruled out of both friendlies on account of injury.
The Eagles spokesman also denied emergent reports that currently injured Granada of Spain striker, Isaac Success has been included in the roster to battle Mali on May 27 in Rouen, about 135 kilometres from Paris and near Saint Etienne, with kick-off fixed for 7pm.
The squad will then leave France on May 30, to keep a date with Luxemburg on June 1 in their capital city, ahead of which Ibitoye insists everything is going according to the NFF’s plan.
“There is nothing to worry about regarding the issuance of visas for our flight to France,” Ibitoye said. “It is true that we are yet to get the visas but I can safely say we will get them any moments from now.
“Regarding the injury of Aaron Samuel, I don’t think that will upset the coaches, because they will still have 25 players for the two matches.
“As for Isaac Success, he was not even invited in the first place, so there is nothing to worry about that his present injury could affect our plans for these two matches.”
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