“The money paid by the [sports] ministry for the charter flight did not hit airline’s account on Tuesday so they refused to fly the team to Brazil”, a source close to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) told BBC Sport.
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WGCL in Atlanta reports that they will depart on Wednesday (Thursday NZ Time), putting them in Brazil with little time to spare before their opener against Japan on Thursday (Friday NZT) in Manaus.
The charter flight scheduled to take the team to Brazil Wednesday was canceled due to non-payment, according to a team spokesman.
Nigeria, who are in Group B of the Rio Games alongside Sweden, Colombia and Japan, boast a proud Olympic record. This makes the players happy, Siasia said. “We want to show what the Nigerian soccer team is capable of doing on the world stage”.
But, deep breaths. It was 20 years ago today that the Super Eagles became the first African and non-European or South American team to win the gold medal, so despite this slight EP aka Enemy of Progress, do they stand a chance to bring the gold home again?
Vanguard Newspapers reported that as of 9 p.m. Nigerian time yesterday, the team was still waiting for the money to be sent for their chartered flight. But considering being stranded at an airport the night before, the five hour flight the day of and having to play in one of the most humid stadiums on the planet all within a 24 hour span, I can’t see Nigeria mentally being in the game against Japan.
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After the team rushes to get to their match on time Thursday, all bills will be paid back by the Nigerian Football Federation.
