The Nigeria Football Federation, NFF has lamented the South African Football Association’s poor treatment of the Super Falcons following Tuesday’s final 2024 Paris Olympics qualifier in Pretoria.
The Super Falcons out played a goalless draw with Banyana Banyana at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria to secure qualification for the Olympics in Paris following a 1-0 victory in the first leg at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja.
After Nigeria’s narrow win in the first leg, a host of the South African team and head coach Desiree Ellis talked tough expressing confidence that they would overturn the result on home soil.
It was however not meant to be as Nigeria remained resolute and claimed a vital draw to pick one of the two tickets for the Olympics.
Following qualification for the Olympics, the Nigeria Football Federation has now revealed that the South African Football Association, SAFA abandoned the team immediately after the final whistle in Pretoria.
NFF’s Director of Competitions, Ruth David said as soon as Tunisian referee Dorsaf Ganouati blew the final whistle, SAFA officials made it clear that their responsibilities towards the Nigerian team had ended.
She said they only took the team back to the hotel and no longer detailed security personnel for the Nigeria delegation.
David however praised the Charge d’Affaires in the Nigerian High Commission in Pretoria, Alexander Tope Ajayi for making the team feel comfortable and at home right right from arrival.
She said he organized dinner, mobilized and provided transportation for Nigerians based in Pretoria to come to the stadium and support the Falcons.
He also organized for transportation for the Super Falcons and saw the team off to the airport on departure.