AFCON: Nigerians demand explanations from Egyptian Embassy over visa refusal

Some Nigerian football enthusiasts on Tuesday, demanded an explanation from the officials of the Egyptian Embassy over the denial of visa to some members of the Super Eagles Supporters Club.

Some supporters were to travel to Egypt to cheer the Super Eagles to victory on the second leg of AFCON qualifier in Egypt. Sunday Fabiyi, a football fan based in Abuja, who spoke with NAN, wondered why it was difficult to issue visa to the supporters club, which was the right thing to do. According to him, Nigerians periodically do the same to other fellow African countries including Egypt, adding “it is in African spirit and the development of the game.’’

Fabiyi also noted that Nigeria remained the big brother of Africa no matter what happens, adding that “the spirit of a Nigerian can never be deterred.”

Similarly Fidelia Ogunsakin, a female football ethusiast who also spoke with NAN, maintained that the Egyptian embassy should make their reasons public rather than being silent. She advised that Nigerians should not be kept in the dark over the issue. Ogunsakin, however, expressed optimism in the ability of the Super Eagles to defeat the Egyptian national team, not minding the antics of the Egyptian officials.

An Egyptian embassy official, who spoke to NAN on the condition of anonymity, said that it was the duty of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), to have handled the issue of visa. The official said that NFF should have come up with a letter on behalf of the supporters in line with policies of the embassy.

Source: NigerianEye