NFF apologise for aircraft debacle

NFF Secretary General Bolaji Ojo-Oba has issued an apology to the country after the Nigeria team failed to fly on Monday night as a result of technical issues with the aircraft chartered by the federation.

The contingent was scheduled to fly out of London on Monday night, but the flight was aborted when the pilot detected a malfunction, said to do with the aircraft's lighting system.

Ojo-Oba said the NFF were shocked and explained that officials did what was necessary to get a reputable charter firm to airlift the team to South Africa.

"After we came to a decision that the team would camp in London for pre –World Cup training, we immediately directed our consultant to hold talks with a reputable airline that could take the team to South Africa on charter agreement. We didn’t want the team to fly regular airline with its complications and unpredictability. Moreover, the players fly business class, and it would have been difficult for us to secure in excess of 40 Business Class seats on one aircraft.

“Our top officials had discussions with the charter company and were satisfied by their brief on the services they had previously provided for other national teams and contingents.

“We are therefore in shock that this company failed outright. We apologize to the Federal Government and the good people of Nigeria for this charter company’s failure, as well as the Nigeria High Commissioner to South Africa and the Mission Staff who went through considerable discomfort waiting for the team to arrive on Tuesday. Sometimes, these things happen in the aviation industry.

“Whatever we did was in the interest of the team, their safety, security and comfort. It is on record that the leadership of this NFF has done more for the welfare of the national teams than any before it. What has happened is unfortunate, but we are full of gratitude to the Federal Government for its keen interest in this matter,” said Ojo-Oba.

On Tuesday, the Nigerian government dispatched an aircraft from a local carrier, Arik Air, to fly the contingent to South Africa.