The Nigeria Football Federation has expressed disappointment that officials and six players from the domestic league have still not been issued entry visas to Belgium ahead of Thursday’s friendly against DR Congo.
Nigeria will also play another friendly against Cameroon also in Belgium on Sunday.
The NFF Technical Committee Chairman, Felix Anyansi-Agwu, said the association is shocked by the lack of co-operation from the Belgian embassy in Nigeria.
Anyasi-Agwu said: “We are shocked beyond words at the attitude of the Embassy of Belgium in Nigeria. This action is a strange one in international sports. Football preaches and spreads peace and love, but we are taken aback at the attitude of the Belgian embassy in Nigeria.”
Anyansi-Agwu, who as chairman of Enyimba FC has traveled the world in the course of football in the past 15 years, lamented the action threatens Nigeria’s preparation for the two matches.
He said: “This attitude of the Embassy of Belgium in Nigeria is not known to international sports. Our team’s preparedness for the only preparatory games ahead of the beginning of FIFA World Cup qualifiers has been unduly hampered. The team’s medical crew and other critical backroom staff are held back in Nigeria.
“This action is not just against a Football Federation; it is against an entire nation.”
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