Kickoff (Cape Town)
4 September 2008
General Secretary of the Nigeria Football Federation, Bolaji Ojo-Oba on Thursday said the Super Eagles players did not try to enter South Africa without return tickets.
"We sent return flight tickets to all the players and it was with these tickets that they travelled to South Africa.
"The reports suggesting we sent them one -way tickets are uncharitable and a deliberate but futile effort to distract our team," Ojo-Oba said in Port Elizabeth, venue of Saturday's 2010 World Cup qualifying cracker between Nigeria and South Africa.
"It is outright falsehood because that is not in our character and we don't treat our players that way. We treat them with maximum respect and the rumour - mongers can go to hell.
"All the players had their return tickets as far back as two weeks ago. That is the truth. The media should beware of harmful speculations and half truths".
Ojo-Oba did not take into cognisance that it was not the international media but the Super Eagles media officer, Idah Peterside who said the Eagles were held back because they did not have return tickets.
South Africa Football Association, SAFA CEO also confirmed that the Eagles were delayed at their arrival because they did not have return tickets.
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