Izuchukwu OkosiThe Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has released an unreserved apology to players and officials of the Super Falcons, after they were delayed at the airport on their return to Abuja on Thursday.
Officials of the Nigeria’s Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) held the ladies for several hours because of COVID-19 test issues, following their arrival at the airport in the early hours of Thursday from the 2022 Africa Women’s Cup of Nations qualifying game in Ivory Coast.
The coach of the team, Randy Waldrum said the situation, which followed a two-hour flight, was “very frustrating”.
But the NFF has absolved itself of any blame, describing the incident as “unfortunate”.
NFF general secretary Mohammed Sanusi said in a statement, “We had our protocol officers on ground at the airport and they did [what was necessary] before the team arrived.
“We are a responsible organisation and the various national teams have been going out and returning to Nigeria since these Covid-19 protocols, procedures and guidelines started.
Nigeria’s Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare has expressed dismay on the unpleasant treatment of the national women senior football team.
The minister in a statement on Thursday described the incident as unfortunate, noting that a complete account of what happened has been received by his office.
He said the Ministry will send its findings to the National Centre of Disease Control (NCDC) and the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to thoroughly investigate the matter and ensure that our sports men and women are treated fairly and respectfully.
Izuchukwu Okosi is a Nigerian sports and entertainment journalist with two decades of experience in the media industry having begun his media journey in 2002 as an intern at Mundial Sports International (MSI) and Africa Independent Television (AIT), owners of Daar Communications Plc.
In October 2004, Okosi joined Complete Communications Limited, publishers of Complete Sports newspaper and Complete Football magazine as a reporter and later script writer for the Complete Sports studio.
He worked there for 13 years until October 2017.
Okosi also worked various times as Correspondent, Content creator and Editor at Sports Market International Magazine, Opera News, All Nigeria Soccer Media and Iconic Media Watch.
He also undertook freelance writing gigs for some local and international organizations.
Okosi is a member of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Association of Movie Producers (AMP), Association of Voiceover Artistes of Nigeria (AVOA), Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) and Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).
He has been part of cast in some Nollywood movies and radio dramas including Blood Money 2, Scores To Settle, Dead End 2, Another Campus Tale and Battle Line.
Aside mainstream media and the entertainment industry, he has interests in scouting/unearthing of talents in the sports and creative sectors, exports business and property development.
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