Nigeria’s chaotic build-up to next
Sunday’s World Cup qualifier in Zambia has continued unabated with
rumpus over a $300,000 (about N138 million) chartered flight to Ndola
further endangering the country’s chances.
The Super Eagles logistics are already
in disarray after a late directive from the Nigeria Football Federation
(NFF) for coaches and players to pay their way to a training camp in
Abuja beginning today.
The country’s top Europe-based stars are
also spoiling for a showdown with the NFF after they were ordered to
fly economy class to Abuja this week and they will get a refund for the
tickets they purchased on arrival.
These are the same players who have not
been refunded for the flight tickets they bought to come down for last
month’s AFCON qualifier against Tanzania in Uyo.
But by far the biggest logistical
headache ahead of the World Cup qualifier now is a plan to get a
chartered flight for the team to Zambia.
The inflated cost of $300,000 and the
fact that a company and not the NFF is negotiating the deal have pitched
top officials against themselves.
AfricanFootball.com was
exclusively informed that a local airline has been contacted by a
company outside the NFF and they negotiated a $300,000 bill for the
chartered flight.
However, aviation industry sources told AfricanFootball.com this flight should not be more than $200,000.
“This is a local airline we’re talking
about so why pay them in US dollars? And to think of it, the NFF did not
negotiate this $300,000 bill. To say the least, the signals are very,
very disturbing” questioned a source.
The original plan was for the Eagles to depart Abuja on Thursday and get their visas at the point of entry.
But now with the possibility that the
start of the training camp may be bogged down by the late
buy-your-ticket order, it is unclear when they will fly out.
However, all that has not stopped top
government officials from sending the names of friends, family and
cronies who should be on this jamboree.
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