Kano Pillars, Enyimba Players Storm American Consulate Today



The Super Eagles hopes of having a good outing in the Green Bowl Soccer Tournament may be in tatters as more players whom coach Samson Siasia intend having in his team to the United States for the invitational tourney may be denied entry visas.

Kano Pillars players, Abdulwasiu Sowemimo, Joseph Thompson and Gambo Mohammed stand the risk of missing out from the trip as visas in their passports show they have visited countries that are unfriendly to the USA.

The duo of Eagles assistant coach, Salisu Yusuf and 3SC striker, Gbolahan Salami had their application for visas denied as the Embassy studies the application in the next two weeks after they have visited some countries at daggers drawn with the USA.

 Consequently, Gbolahan Salami did not take part in Eagles training on Monday evening in Abuja as a result of the visa disappointment.

The trio of Sowemimo, Thompson and Mohammed were in Sudan two years ago to represent their club in the CAF Champions League. They are however expected to be at the US Embassy in Abuja today (Wednesday) for their visa application interviews as they were in the team that travelled to Liberia for a date with Mighty Barolle in  a Preliminary Round game of the CAF Champions League.

“Sowemimo is the team’s heart of the defence and in his absence, Gege Soriola looked lost in the test game against the Flying Eagles, while Gambo has been on  top form,” an NFF official opined.

Sudan, Egypt and Qatar are some of the countries at loggerheads with  the United States of America. Infact, Sudan according to the source is a friendly nation to the terrorist group, Al Qaeda and even harboured its leader Osama Bin Laden declared wanted for several years.

Meanwhile, Eagles coach, Samson Siasia has praised the efforts of the USA Embassy in Abuja in helping his team secure their visas for the invitational tournament which has suffered teams’ pullout and other logistic setbacks.

Siasia was specifically grateful to the Vice-Consular of the Embassy, Marcus Fallon whom he still wants more from.

“Mr. Falllon had been so nice and helpful to us. He did virtually everything to help my players in securing visas and we have been asked to come and take our passports back on Wednesday with visas already in them,” Siasia said joyfully.

“I am also appealing to him to help our remaining players who have just come back from CAF continental matches get visas when they visit the embassy on Wednesday.”

“Also on the issue of the two team members who are yet to be granted visas, I am very sure that the Embassy would eventually give them. It is just that they want to clarify some certain areas before they can do so.”

“The Nigeria Football Federation has been doing all they could to ensure that we honour the US tournament and the Guatemala match as well. I am sure we will be there to make Nigerians proud.”

“The players are in high spirits, ready to fight and prove themselves in the USA. They are aware that this is a very big opportunity for them to make a statement,” the former Super Eagles striker added.