Gamers of the Nigeria U-18 boys’ basketball staff have been denied visas to the 2024 FIBA U18 Afrobasket.
by the South African Consulate on the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
This choice has jeopardised Nigeria’s journey to the biennial match beginning in South Africa on Tuesday (right this moment), with Nigeria billed to face Egypt in Pretoria later within the day.
The gamers, who skilled and camped in Abuja on return from Abidjan, are in complete shock, tears, and ache as they watch their desires of being on the FIBA World Championship fade on account of the South Africans denying them entry.
The Vice Chairman of the Youth Improvement Committee of the Nigeria Basketball Federation, Ugo Udezue, who’s already in Pretoria with the primary staff, was shocked when he was alerted on the event. He sees the event as a complete sabotage.
He stated, “Initially, it’s quite unlucky that an African nation wants a visa to journey to a different African nation. Secondly, that is in opposition to the spirit of sportsmanship. These youngsters have sacrificed an excessive amount of for a visa consular officer to disclaim them the chance to symbolize Nigeria globally.”
The act of refusing the staff visas looks as if a deliberate try to cease the Junior D’Tigers, because the South African Embassy in Lagos cleared the women to journey, and they’re already in Pretoria and set for his or her opening match in opposition to Egypt on Tuesday.
The women have been camped in Lagos on their return from Ivory Coast, the place each groups completed as winners of the FIBA Africa Zone 3 qualifiers.
The NBBF despatched the names of the girls and boys in a single letter to the embassy.
It was learnt that the NBBF has already complained to FIBA Africa, the South African hosts, and Nigeria’s Overseas Affairs Ministry. The calls made by South African officers from Pretoria have made little or no affect.