Senegal's midfielder Papakouli Diop (C) celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal during the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations group B football match between Senegal and Algeria in Franceville on January 23, 2017. KHALED DESOUKI / AFP
Senegal may go into their international friendly match against Nigeria at Barnet’s Hive Stadium today without some of their squad members, as the team have been hit by visa and travelling problems.
According to Gawlo.net, the Senegalese Federation arranged for the players without valid visas to England, those in possession of a Senegalese passport only, to travel to Paris, where they will file their visa applications at the British Embassy in the French capital at 1500 hours on Monday.
They were discouraged from processing their visas in Dakar because it will take a minimum of 15 working days before the traveling document is issued.
Fifteen members of the Senegalese delegation traveled by train to London on Monday, shortly after their appointment at the British Embassy in Paris.
The Lions of Teranga coach Aliou Cissé flew Sunday night aboard Air France, had a short stop in Paris before arriving his final destination, London.
The Senegalese Federation had problems paying the flight tickets for the invited foreign-based professionals because the Ministry of Sports could not mobilize the funds on time despite making reservations early last week.
While the Senegalese have their own problems, the Nigerian delegation has also been hit by visa problems, which may stop some senior team officials from being among the match delegates.
The British High Commission on Tuesday denied entry visas to the three NFF senior staff members, including Technical Director, Bitrus Bewarang, Director of Competitions, Bola Oyeyode and Head of Protocol Unit, Tunde Aderibigbe.
According to reports, the NFF chiefs were told that their visa applications were rejected because they had not visited the United Kingdom for some time now.
Source: G Sport
