Super Eagles Fly To Ndola, Zambia On Saturday For World Cup Qualifier

TAIWO ADELU

The Nigerian delegation to Sunday’s 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Zambia’s Chipolopolo will depart from the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport on Saturday.

NFF officials confirmed on Thursday that the team will arrive in time for an evening training session at the Levy Nwanawasa Stadium in Ndola, Zambia.

It was gathered that apart from the 23 players and 15 team officials that will be on the flight, there will also be some top officials of the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports, some members of the National Assembly, few members of the NFF Executive Committee and Management, some NFF staff and some stakeholders including media representatives.

“We have allocated slots to some stakeholders because it is a chartered flight and a number of seats are available after the players and team officials have taken their seats.

“The NFF is not paying anybody for being on the trip. We don’t have the money. All the stakeholders on the trip will be there simply to support the team during the game. We have told the persons involved that they will pay for their own board and lodging, and they have accepted to do that,” said NFF Second Vice President Shehu Dikko.

Dikko, who is also Chairman of the League Management Company, said: “In the near future, we would look at the possibility of commercializing this kind of opportunity. If you give out, say 80 seats, to persons who can pay for them on 145 –seater aircraft, you can raise some good money for the team. It is a practice firmly in place in some climes.”