NIGERIANS on social media have expressed displeasure at the Spanish embassy’s reported refusal to grant the Nigeria Under 15 team visas to participate in the UEFA U16 Development Tournament, scheduled to begin on Friday, April 12.
On Monday, April 8, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), via its X handle, announced that players and officials would not participate in the tournament following the Spanish government’s denial of visas.
The tweet read: “Players and officials of the Nigeria U15 team, Future Eagles, have been denied visas by the Spanish Embassy and will therefore not be travelling to take part in the UEFA U16 Development Tournament starting on Friday.”
However, the Federation did not specify the reason for the visa denial in the statement.
Initiated after a pilot phase in 2012, UEFA Under-15 and Under-16 tournaments, comprising four teams, provide an avenue for international boys’ and girls’ youth teams to engage in high-intensity, competitive matches.
The initiative aims to enhance standards and allow players to adapt to training camps and match travel.
“The UEFA development tournaments, designed to promote the development of the players rather than the competition itself, are a platform for the national associations to give international experience to young players through high-intensity games. It also gives the opportunity to aid the preparation of teams for UEFA Under-17 and Women’s Under-17 qualifiers,” says the UEFA head of technical education & development, Olivier Doglia,
Reacting to the development, some Nigerians stated that refusing to grant the Nigerian team visa is ‘embarrassing and unacceptable.’
They also called on the Nigerian government to intervene so that the Future Eagles could live their dreams.
An X user, Nafiu Muhammad, wrote: This is an embarrassment to our dear country. Spanish ambassador should be summoned by the presidency to come and explain the reasons for the denials.
Another user, @mrtopson, also said, “This is an embarrassment to the country. The people managing the affairs in the glass should be sacked.”
Mastermind El Jefe also expressed his displeasure, stating, “How will a national team be denied visa…? This is an absolute disgrace for real.”
Usman Mustapha is a solution journalist with International Centre for Investigative Reporting. You can easily reach him via: [email protected]. He tweets @UsmanMustapha_M