By Akinwale Kasali
After the Quarter Finals ouster of the Falconets of Nigeria from the ongoing FIFA Under-20 World Cup in Costa Rica, images emerged online of the National Team players sleeping on bare floors, Chairs at the Istanbul Airport in Turkey, yesterday.
The team had left San Jose, Costa Rica and boarded a flight to Turkey on a 24-hour layover in Istanbul.
Super Eagles’ ex-media officer, Collin Udoh, had posted on his Social Media Handle, saying m, “Nigeria’s #Falconets have been travelling from Costa Rica since 6:30am on Monday.
“They’re now in Istanbul on a 24-hour layover and sleeping on the airport chairs and floor, or wherever they can find.”
The images caused outrage from Social Media users and Football enthusiasts who lamented the ill- treatment meted on the Ladies.
Accusing fingers are being pointed at the leadership of the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, led by its President, Amaju Melvin Pinnick, for their poor and shoddy arrangement, and making the nation a laughing stock.
Reacting, NFF General Secretary, Mohammed Sanusi, says the Falconets missed their flight from Istanbul, Turkey to Nigeria, adding that they were not stranded in the European nation.
He debunked reports that the Falconets were stranded in Istanbul, describing the reports as mischievous and misleading, saying the girls missed their connecting flight.
“The Falconets were not stranded in Turkey; to say the girls were stranded is a mischievous statement. It’s the fault of the airline.
“By the time they arrived in Istanbul, the connecting Turkish Airline flight that was supposed to convey them from Turkey to Abuja had left and the Falconets had to wait for the next flight.”
Sanusi said the Falconets have, finally, boarded a flight to Abuja.
