On social media, images of Nigerian falcons sleeping on the ground and benches at the airport in Istanbul, Turkey, have gone viral.
The Netherlands defeated the Christopher Danjuma-led women 2-0 on Sunday, sending them home from the 2022 Women’s U-20 World Cup in Costa Rica.
After the game, the players rested for around three hours before heading to the airport for their flight back to Nigeria, according to journalist Colin Udoh.
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According to Udoh, their flight was moved from Turkish Air to Avianca, a Colombian airline, causing a four-hour delay in Colombia.
The squad then missed their Tuesday connection flight, he continued, because of a stop in Panama.
“Since 6:30 on Monday morning, we have been traveling to Nigeria. We are currently dozing off at the Istanbul Airport while we wait for our 6 p.m. Wednesday flight to Abuja, according to a source on the team.
The players were alleged to have experienced a wide range of logistical issues during the campaign.
According to sources, the “team was only given a little amount of equipment, consisting of three pairs of their green home kit and two sets of their white away outfit. Players couldn’t swap uniforms with opponents and had to hand wash their shirts after every game.
Additionally, they were not given official shoes and were instructed to purchase their own pair.
As a result, the players, who only receive a daily match allowance of $50 and no extras, took out loans to pay for their sneakers and playing boots.
The airline declined to offer lodging for the team as a result of a lack of transit permits, according to Ruth David, director of competition at NFF, who responded to the development.
The development occurs about the same time that President Muhammadu Buhari made a commitment to thwart any attempts to stifle Nigeria’s growth in football.
At the inauguration of Nigeria’s 10-year football development master plan on Tuesday, Buhari issued the warning.