The international friendly games Nigeria will be playing against Ivory Coast and Tunisia in Austria in October have suffered a setback due to COVID-19 restrictions.
Super Eagles captain Ahmed Musa and goalkeeper Ikechukwu Ezenwa, as well as officials of the national team based in Nigeria are among the team members who may miss the friendlies.
According to the PUNCH, Austria had prohibited ‘third-country nationals’, which includes Nigeria and Saudi Arabia, where Musa plies his trade, from entering the country.
The ‘third-country nationals’, according to schengenvisainfo.com, are predominantly from African and Asian nations and would need Schengen visas to enter Austria.
“Entry is prohibited to third-country nationals when arriving (Austria) from states outside the Schengen area,” stated Austria.info.
Further checks on the website of the Austrian Embassy in Nigeria also showed that visas were not currently being issued by the European nation.
“Application for visa (Schengen and national) cannot be accepted until further notice,” the embassy wrote on its website.
Gernot Rohr’s backroom staff based in Nigeria, and Heartland of Owerri goalie Ezenwa, may all be affected by this development.
Super Eagles Media Officer, Toyin Ibitoye, however said the officials would be granted visas by the Austrian authorities.
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