Sports247.ng can report that it took a special intervention from Delta State government to fly the Pharaohs of Egypt into Asaba for Tuesday’s international friendly against the Super Eagles.
In contrast with usual situations in which visiting teams pay their way to honour away matches, a special arrangement between Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and Delta State provided a strange scenario in which the Egyptians waited for an aircraft to fly them into the host city.
This was gathered from a hint by NFF president, Amaju Pinnick, who thanked the host government for picking the bills for Tuesday’s match and ensuring that the Nigerian players had the best welfare package on offer in the Delta State capital.
Consequently, a chartered Air Peace plane first flew to Niamey, Niger Republic to pick The Pharaohs and airlift them to Asaba, where they will confront Nigeria on Tuesday evening at Stephen Keshi Stadium.
The Pharaohs’ delegation of 24 players, 21 technical and backroom staff and five journalists landed at Asaba Airport on Sunday afternoon, and were quickly moved to their lodgings at Golden Tulip Hotel.
They were billed to have the first and only training session at on Monday evening at the match venue, after the second lef of the Africa U23 Cup of Nations qualifier between Nigeria and Libya.
While thanking Delta State governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa for putting everything in place to make both teams feels at home in Asaba, Pinnick, who is an indigene of the state, noted the far-reaching efforts taken by the government to host three international matches in five days.
“We are grateful to the Delta State Government for hosting the three games. NFF does not de-emphasize the welfare of the players.
“The Eagles match allowances have been paid in full by the Delta State Government and they don’t have anything to worry about,” said Pinnick.
