By Victor Kanayo
After suffering over 24-hour delay at Istanbul, Turkey airport, Nigeria’s U20 team Falconets finally arrived Abuja, Nigeria capital Wednesday night.
Heritage Times HT had reported how the young girls were left to sleep overnight at the airport’s bare floor and passengers’ waiting chairs, days after crashing out in the quarter-final of the ongoing 2022 FIFA U20 World Cup in Costa Rica.
On arrival at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja, the team was received by the General Secretary of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Mohammed Sanusi and a representative of the Minister of Youth and Sports development, Toyin Ibitoye.
While speaking, the NFF representative apologised to the entire team and promised that their bonuses and allowances will also be paid.
“It’s an approval from the ministry of sports and we want to assure you that the same Super Falcons will be paid their bonuses, you will also be paid.
“We want you to know that Nigerians appreciate all of you but we are saddened that you have to sleep over at the airport because for a reason that is beyond our control,” he said.
However, the Minister of Youth and Sports who was represented later presented a cash reward to the team with a further promise that all their entitlements will be paid.
Earlier on Wednesday, the NFF authorities in a press statement blamed World football governing body FIFA, unnamed airline and lack of transit visa for the long stay of the players and officials of the team at the airport
The two times FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup finalists left Costa Rica on Monday at 6:30am (Nigerian Time) and were later were pictured sleeping on bare floor and chairs at the Istanbul Airport after staying at same spot for 24 hours.
This is not the first time the national team will suffer similar humiliating circumstance.
Few weeks before their departure from Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, to the tournament, they were left alone, a situation that forced both players and officials to trek to the venue of their training.
