Daily Independent (Lagos)
Ejiro Femi-Babafemi
17 November 2008
Lagos — The sixth edition of the African Women Championship (AWC) currently going on in Equatorial Guinea may have been hit by major crisis following series of complaints from majority of the participating countries.
Two days after the arrival of officials of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), there is no sign that they are part of the championship. Neither have they been accredited nor is there official vehicle attached to them, a situation which has left them grumbling in their Hotel Gabriel in Bata.
As against the normal procedure where visiting officials, journalists and supporters club members are usually accredited on arrival at the airport, the situation is different. On Saturday, when NFF officials arrived in Malabo, capital of Equatorial Guinea, the host country pretended as if there was nothing at stake. "Go to Bata and get your accreditation", one of the officials said at Malabo airport.
Even at Bata, venue of the Super Falcons match on Saturday, there has been no accreditation of any form, a situation which forced Nigerian journalists, NFF officials and supporters club members to pay their way to the stadium to watch the game between Nigeria and Ghana.
A visit to the Falcons camp at Pan Africa Hotel on Saturday, revealed a lot of things, which did not speak well about the organisation of the championship.
For instance, Falcons wanted to watch the match in their various rooms they met a brick wall. "I don't understand what this people are up to," Falcons striker, Perpetua Nkwocha, said. "We can't watch TV in our rooms. Even the rooms are not up to standard. Look at us coming down to the reception to watch matches. I have not seen this anywhere in my life. When Nigeria hosted the AWC in Warri twice in 2002 and 2006, we saw what happened. Warri is not even the capital of Nigeria and they gave us the best of facilities. I just hope they will change," Nkwocha lamented.
An official of the Falcons complained about the transportation system and location of their camp. "The only good thing about this camp is that it is located near the beach. But sincerely speaking, what is going on around us here is nothing to write home about. Look at the nightclubs around us. Their loud music disturbs our sleep. If you come out in the night, you will be shocked with what you will see around. They operate a nude club around here and it is not good for the players.
It was learnt that an NFF officials practically fought before a vehicle could be attached to the team for its transportation to move around. "I think CAF should go round and see what is happening to the teams. Or could it be all attention is focused in Malabo?"the official asked.
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