World Cup: Stranded Nigerian fans trickle out of Kaliningrad

By Daily Sports on June 19, 2018

About 100 Nigerian soccer fans stranded in Kaliningrad following their team’s loss to Croatia in their World Cup opener were finally on the move on Monday after what was described as a visa gaffe.

Most of the supporters had planned to take the train from Kaliningrad back to Moscow following the Super Eagles 2-0 loss on Saturday but did not have the necessary visas to pass through countries like Lithuania and Latvia.

Russian officials stepped in to help the marooned fans by arranging flights but they were not free.

Supporters said they were told flights would be found at the lowest possible fare but one fan told Reuters he was quoted a price of 28,000 Rubles ($442) which he declined to pay.

Eventually, he arranged a ticket for 6,000 Rubles ($95) but would not be able to leave Kaliningrad until Monday evening.

“I was not going to pay that for a flight that is one hour,” Babajide Oke, a Nigerian who lives and works in Atlanta, told Reuters as he stretched out on a row of seats in the concourse while other supporters in their national jerseys wandered about. “I got on my laptop and found my own ticket.

“When I got to the train station they gave us the wrong information and they told us we should go to the airport and we can purchase tickets at a discounted rate,” he said.

“I had to do it all myself but some here could not.”

Many of those sitting around Oke said they had tickets but would not be able to leave until Tuesday evening.

A Kaliningrad official talking with the Nigerians, who did not want to be named, said 52 left for Moscow on Sunday and in total 70 had departed but at mid-day on Monday there were still a number waiting for confirmed bookings.

TASS News Agency, citing Andrei Yermak, Kaliningrad’s minister for culture and tourism, reported around 80 Nigerians were unable to leave by train.

“Full support has been given to the Nigerian supporters who despite multiple warnings from FIFA and information alerts from the consulate, were not able to travel from Kaliningrad to Moscow on June 16,” Kaliningrad government press services said in a statement.

“A large number of the Nigerians flew to the capital on June 18. Around 20 people already have plane tickets for the 19th.” (Reuters)

•Photo shows stranded passengers, among them Nigerians, at a Russian airport

Source Daily Sports

Posted June 19, 2018


 

You may also like...
Koeman Begins Messi Reconciliation At Barca

Aubameyang ‘Really Down’ After Malaria

Man City Will Not Seek Virus Furlough Offer...

Arsenal Have Been Badly Damaged — Arteta

Premier League Newcomers Brentford Keen On Nigeria’s Frank...

Usain Bolt, Partner Welcome Baby Girl

 

Latest News Hearn slams Ngannou over Joshua defeat excuse Chelsea eye Martinez to replace Osimhen Visa unveils Amusan, Nwachukwu as global ambassadors I’m not under pressure to coach Eagles – Finidi Super Eagles focused on World Cup qualifiers – Omeruo Ibrahim: Striker who wants to emulate Lukaku at Chelsea Boniface ranked best African performer in Europe Napoli may reduce Osimhen price tag Mali beat Nigeria 2-0 in international friendly NOC commends Team Nigeria, government, media for victory at African Games JOF U-13 Cup: 8 Clubs Qualify For Quarterfinals Osimhen resumes training, fit for Atalanta clash

 

Most Read Rangers International going, going . . . (53,396 views) Amaju Pinnick: A cat with nine lives (44,403 views) Second Term: Amaju Pinnick, Other NFF Heavyweights Home to Roost •How Pinnick Broke the Jinx (42,546 views) Missing $150,000 IAAF Grant: Solomon Dalung’s Hide and Seek game (42,221 views) Sports Development: Zenith Bank on the zenith (42,004 views) Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje’s solid footprints, commitment to sports development in Kano State (41,883 views) Current issues in Nigerian sports: Matters arising (41,769 views) NFF Presidency: Pinnick, Maigari, Ogunjobi, Okoye in Battle for Supremacy (41,227 views) Olopade, BET9A wave of revolution in NNL (40,273 views) Commonwealth Games 2018: Shame of Muhammadu Buhari, Solomon Dalung (39,184 views) Ibrahimovic’s Man U exit: Whose decision is it? And in whose interest? (37,636 views) John Mikel Obi: Segun Odegbami’s Outrageous Call! (37,212 views)

 

Phone numbers

Tel: +234(0)8066020976
+234(0)8055068145
+234(0)7013416146
+234(0)8094272884

Email addresses

info@dailysportsng.com
support@dailysportsng.com
publisher@dailysportsng.com

Office address

No 3, Adetoun Close, Off College Road, Ogba, Ikeja Lagos.
Website: www.dailysportsng.com

Social Media