By Daily Sports on October 24, 2018
Nigeria captain John Mikel Obi has pledged financial and moral support to the country's cash-strapped amputee football team, but the Special Eagles face a race against time to make it to the World Cup in Mexico.
The team, who have missed the last three World Cups due to a lack of finances, took to crowd-funding early this month to help them travel to compete in the 2018 tournament.
Both the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) president, Amaju Pinnick, and the Super Eagles squad have made significant financial contributions, but captain John Mikel Obi has now stepped in to assist.
“We’ve spoken to a representative of John Mikel Obi who has offered to help the team,” co-ordinator of fund-raising, Fred Edoreh, told BBC Sport.
“His support will come as a big boost, but right now the dilemma is to find the flights to get the squad to Mexico.
“Time is running out on us and with ticket costs increasing by the day towards our opening game against our budget, we are taking the hard decisions of sending the first team as first batch.
“This is to avoid heavier cost and also get the boys to settle down before the game against Brazil on Sunday.
“The first batch (eight players and coach) should have left today (Tuesday) but there were not enough seats on the last lap of the journey, from Mexico City to Guadalajara.
“Our travel agents are working hard to secure space for them by tomorrow, Wednesday. So they are expected to depart Lagos by 12 noon with Ethiopia Airlines.”
“This will help us to secure our presence and avoid a global sanction. Hoping with additional funds, the reserve team can depart on Thursday or Friday,” Edoreh said.
BBC Sports understands that former Chelsea midfielder Mikel Obi hopes to support the team with money and kits.
Angola, Kenya and Ghana represented Africa at the 2014 World Cup in Culiacán, Mexico.
The Angolans finished as runners-up after losing 3-1 to Russia in the final. (BBC)
•Photo shows Nigeria Amputee Team
Source Daily Sports
Posted October 24, 2018
You may also like...
Everton Midfielder James Offered To Atletico Madrid, AC...
Man Utd Ace Pogba Upset Fernandes Played In...
Guardiola loses patience in Man City press conference...
Ogu keen to return to Hapoel Beer-Sheva action...
Auba: Milan Clash A Do Or Die
Oshoala drags Arsenal scouts, coaches to Lagos
Abinusawa wins double Ivy conference gold
Teen star Oji breaks African shot put record
Sanwo-Olu to host World School Games, African Youth Games athletes
Osimhen rallies Gala teammates for Super Lig, UCL run-in
Super Falcons regroup for Cameroon double-header
Ibadan to host FASU Afro-Varsity 3×3 Basketball Challenge
Family seeks N20m ransom as Oyo govt probes player’s kidnap
Cameroon friendly to shape WAFCON squad — Madugu
Fury sends Joshua support, turns down bout after tragedy
Wolves secure rare win to dent Villa’s bid for Champions League place
Solaja re-emerges BFN South East rep
Usman makes welterweight title claim
Most Read
Rangers International going, going . . . (63,587 views)
Amaju Pinnick: A cat with nine lives (54,902 views)
Second Term: Amaju Pinnick, Other NFF Heavyweights Home to Roost •How Pinnick Broke the Jinx (52,815 views)
Current issues in Nigerian sports: Matters arising (52,439 views)
Sports Development: Zenith Bank on the zenith (52,352 views)
Missing $150,000 IAAF Grant: Solomon Dalung’s Hide and Seek game (52,268 views)
Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje’s solid footprints, commitment to sports development in Kano State (52,144 views)
NFF Presidency: Pinnick, Maigari, Ogunjobi, Okoye in Battle for Supremacy (51,687 views)
Olopade, BET9A wave of revolution in NNL (50,860 views)
Commonwealth Games 2018: Shame of Muhammadu Buhari, Solomon Dalung (49,383 views)
Ibrahimovic’s Man U exit: Whose decision is it? And in whose interest? (47,771 views)
John Mikel Obi: Segun Odegbami’s Outrageous Call! (47,249 views)