Ahead of Saturday’s 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Benin, Super Eagles players have accepted the decision of the Nigeria Football Federal (NFF) to convey the team by boat to Porto-Novo for as long as it is safe.
Recall that some weeks ago the NFF President, Amaju Pinnick announced the move to travel by boat instead of traveling by chartered flight, a decision which was also accepted by the Super Eagles coach, Gernot Rohr.
Although there were mixed reactions to the traveling method from fans and football pundits in Nigeria, however, some key members of the Super Eagles such as Leon Balogun, Joe Aribo, Henry Onyekuru, and William Troost-Ekong have accepted the decision.
In the words of Balogun, “I guess we have to be okay with it, I will say it’s a bit unusual but that’s just how it is. If they change it, it’ll be good if they don’t, we’ll be fine but the most important thing is that we get there in one piece, and win the game,” Balogun added.
Aribo on his side, said, “Traveling by sea, it is what it is, we can’t use that as an excuse. We know what we have to do mentally and that is to win the match. I have never traveled by sea before.
As for Troost-Ekong, he said, “As long as it is safe and we get there as quickly as possible, then It is fine.”
On Onyekuru’s part, he said, “It will be my first time traveling by sea but I don’t really mind. All that matters to me and my teammates is to wear the jersey, represent our country, and win the game,” in-form Galatasaray forward Henry Onyekuru said.
By Augustine Akhilomen
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