Nigeria’s U-23 national team were airlifted last night by an aircraft in the presidential fleet to bail out the National Sports Commission (NSC) from further disgrace. The presidency had to come to the team’s rescue after the NSC were struggling to sort out the team’s trip.
A call from the Vice President, Yemi Osibajo was enough to lift the morale in the team’s Atlanta camp which had been low due to absence of funds.
Reports from the team’s Indigo Hotel revealed that the restive players and officials had moved from their rooms to the reception awaiting further directives.
Although the arrangement looks dusted, SportingLife understands that the VP wanted to know from those in charge of the team how they intend to secure a landing permit for the presidential jet in Brazil.
“I am very sure that will be sorted out before the team finally departs since the presidency is involved,” said our source.
The Dream Team were expected to have left Atlanta since Monday but were unable due to the inability of the authorities to purchase flight tickets.
Another source also informed SportingLife that N100m was needed to charter an aircraft for the team from Atlanta but with a budget of N600m for the NSC to work with proved impossible.
Going by its itinerary, the team has about 31 hours to its opening match against Japan.
The team has not been training and may not train when it lands in Manuas due to jet lag. They will play their opening match at the Amazona Arena at 8pm Brazilian time tonight (2am Nigeria time).
Nigeria will also face Sweden and Colombia at the Rio Olympics.
The team has been in Atlanta for close to a month for the final phase of its training tour.