The Nigerian delegation to Sunday’s 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Zambia’s Chipolopolo will depart the country from the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja on Saturday.
The Nigeria Football Federation in a statement on Thursday in Abuja, said the team would arrive in time for an evening training session at the Levy Nwanawasa Stadium in Ndola.
It said apart from the 23 players and 15 team officials who would be on the flight, there would also be some top officials of the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports.
“Also, there will be some members of the National Assembly, some members of the NFF Executive Committee and management, some NFF staff and some stakeholders, including media representatives,” the federation said in the statement.
It said it allocated flight slots to some stakeholders because the trip would be through a chartered flight.
The NFF said: “A number of seats are available after the players and team officials have taken their seats.
“However, 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.”
The statement was signed by Shehu Dikko, the NFF’s Second Vice President.
Dikko, who is also Chairman of the League Management Company, added: “In the near future, we would look at the possibility of commercialising this kind of opportunity.
“If you give out may be 80 seats to persons who can pay for them on the 145-seater aircraft, you can raise some good money for the team. It is a practice firmly in place in some climes.”
The Super Eagles had been in camp in Abuja since Monday preparing for the match.
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