Nigerian club Enyimba FC had a scheduled Chartered flight from Nigeria to Casablanca, Morocco aborted on Monday, October 23, 2023.
WHAT HAPPENED : Enyimba FC are expected to face Moroccan club Wydad Casablanca in an Africa Football League quater-final 2nd-leg fixture this weekend.
To honour the fixture, Enyimba FC planned to hit Casablanca on-board a chartered flight from the Muritala Mohammed International Airport.
That trip was frustrated after Moroccan authorities failed to issue a landed permit the Enyimba FC, Casablanca bound flight.
As announced by the Nigerian club, the team returned to their hotel room after a 6-hours long wait for the landed permit application to receive approval.
” The Enyimba FC Contingent didn’t make the trip to Casablanca as earlier scheduled after the Moroccan Authorities failed to issue a landed permit for a chattered aircraft from the Murtala Mohammed International airport.
” As at 00.30AM, the team has returned back to a hotel having spent 6 hours and 30 mins in the Chattered aircraft awaiting landing permit from the Moroccan Authorities for it to take off, ” a statement on the Enyimba FC verified Facebook page read.
WHAT NEXT: The People’s Elephants will have to reschedule their travel plans until landed permit is received from the Moroccan authorities.
That would happen in the next 24-hours following intervention from CAF, in order not to jeopardize the scheduling for Africa Football League quater-final games.
NIGERIANS KICK: Due to past travel difficulties experienced by Nigerian clubs when heading to North Africa for Continental matches, fans have kicked against the failed landed permit which has frustrated Enyimba FC’s travel arrangements.
In separate comments on the Enyimba FC Facebook page, Nigerian fans ascribed the delayed response to antics aimed at unsettling the visiting team ahead of the Africa Football League quater-final 2nd-leg match in Casablanca.
ABOUT THE MATCH; Enyimba FC trail Wydad Casablanca 0-1 after stumbling at home via a Yahya Jabrane first half penalty kick goal In Uyo.
Coach Finidi George tutored Enyimba FC must defeat Wydad Casablanca in Morocco to overturn the deficit and progress to the Africa Football League Semi-final.
