Nigeria’s High Commissioner to the Republic of South
Africa, His Excellency Tope Ajayi and the Senior Special Assistant to Mr.
President on Grassroots Sports Development, Sir Adeyinka Adeboye led a team of
top officials of the Mission, the National Sports Commission and members of the
Nigerian community in South Africa to welcome the Super Eagles to Bloemfontein
on Sunday evening.
The chartered ValueJet Airline aircraft that conveyed
the Nigeria delegation touched down at the Bloemfontein Airport at 6.25pm South
Africa time, after a three-and-half hour flight from Luanda, Angola. The
aircraft had flown two-and-half hours from Uyo to Luanda to refuel.
There were also top officials of the National Sports
Commission, including Alhaji Salihu Abubakar, Barr. Musa Amadu, Dr (Mrs)
Kehinde Ajayi, Mr. Ebidowei Owiefie and Mr. Seyi Johnson.
Members of the Nigeria community in South Africa,
propelled by their president, Mr. Smart Nwobi, turned out in impressive numbers
in Nigerian traditional attire, dancing, singing and drumming.
The delegation was led by President of NFF, Alhaji
Ibrahim Musa Gusau, and included the Chairman of the House of Representatives
Committee on Sports, Hon. Kabiru Amadu, some NFF Executive Committee members,
NFF General Secretary Dr. Mohammed Sanusi, former Nigeria captains Nwankwo Kanu
and Victor Ikpeba, a couple of NFF Management and Staff, a couple of
stakeholders and a few media representatives.
There were 22 players and the technical and
administrative staff, with forward Victor Osimhen, who copped an injury in
Saturday’s 1-0 defeat of Rwanda in Uyo, the only absentee from the ensemble
that was invited.
The Super Eagles will have the official training at
the Toyota Stadium by 6pm on Monday (5pm Nigeria time).
PHOTO 1: Players coming down from the
aircraft in Bloemfontein.
PHOTO 2: Coach Eric Chelle looking ahead
to Tuesday’s game
