Hundreds of fans based in the southern African country beseiged the O.R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg to get a view of the Nigerian squad and to welcome it.
Although the team arrived later than its earlier scheduled 11am (10am South African time) arrival, the fans waited patiently until the team touched down. The team’s initial flight was delayed for around an hour due to the huge crowd that was at the airport.
Eagles then boarded another flight from Johannesburg to Nelspruit which will serve as its base for the group phase of the championship.
The Nigeria High Commissioner to South Africa Sonni Yusuf had told everybody earlier in the week to expect such a crowd. He revealed that the High Commission had contacted the Nigerian community in Nelspruit and also expected the closeness of the area to Mozambique where there are also many Nigerians to boost support for the team.
“In the area of support for our team, there will be no problem at all. Nigeria has one of the largest immigrant populations in South Africa.
“The proximity of Mbombela to Mozambique, where we also have a large Nigerian community is another advantage for us.
“So starting from Thursday when the team will arrive in South Africa, the huge support of the Nigerian community in South Africa will be felt,” Yusuf said.
In the same vein, fellow West Africans, Ghana on Thursday also arrived in Port Elizabeth where it would prosecute all its group matches.
Meanwhile, a total of 16 state Football Association chairmen and 14 Sports Editors have been pencilled down as part of Nigeria’s contingent to South Africa. The country’s contingent, which also include’s Sports Minister, Bolaji Abdullahi, is expected to depart for South Africa on Friday afternoon.
