4th June 2024
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has written to both the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) and Confederation of African Football (CAF) over the on-going Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) strike that may stall Friday’s FIFA World Cup 26 Group C Qualifier between the Super Eagles and the visiting Bafana Bafana of South Africa in Uyo.
The Organised Labour yesterday began an indefinite industrial action to press home their demand for an improved minimum wage allowance, and this has affected almost every sector of the economy, even as domestic flights were grounded across the country.
The work stoppage in the aviation sector for instance, has already affected full complement of the Super Eagles in Uyo with only 15 out of the 23 players invited to the camp.
NationSports gathered yesterday that NFF was doing everything possible within its ambit to manage the current state of affairs, and ensure that the remaining eight players, including Alex Iwobi and Ademola Lookman join the rest of the team in Uyo as soon as possible.
“It’s a tough situation,” a senior NFF staff, who hinted Friday’s match in Uyo might be in jeopardy if the industrial strike was not shelved, told NationSport.
“But we have written to CAF and FIFA to update them.
“Hope the strike is shelved soon. Otherwise it could be dicey to organise the match,” he added.
Already, both the global (FIFA) and continental (CAF) soccer ruling bodies have confirmed the Nigeria versus South Africa tie as one of the nine FIFA World Cup 26 qualifiers for Friday, June 7.
Despite the on-going government-labour face-off, Coach Finidi George and his technical crew yesterday held a ‘rigorous’ training session with the 15 players already in Uyo.
“Fifteen (15) players had a comprehensive session on Monday morning at the training pitch of the Godswill Akpabio stadium,” informed the newly appointed Team Media Officer (TMO) of the Super Eagles, Promise Efoghe.
“The training which lasted two hours included fitness and shooting drills, plus tactical sessions led by head coach Finidi George”, he added.
Efoghe said: “Eight more players, including Maduka Okoye, Semi Ajayi, Bright Osayi-Samuel, Calvin Bassey, Frank Onyeka, Alex Iwobi, Ademola Lookman and Paul Onuachu are yet to join the squad. They are in the country but unable to arrive camp because of the ongoing Nigeria Labour Congress strike which has stalled domestic flights.”
