Igiebor Stranded In Nigeria After Nations Cup Win

Three weeks after wining the African Nations Cup with the Super Eagles, midfielder Nosa Igiebor is unable to rejoin his Spanish club, Real Betis.

This is because the Spanish Embassy in Lagos as Thursday, was still playing hide and seek with regards to the issuance of an entry visa to the player.

Igbiebor after the celebrations that greeted the Super Eagles victory, has been a regular visitor to the Spanish Embassy in Lagos, but on each occasion, it was a story of "come today, come tomorrow."

First, they told him that there was a problem with his work permit, then again it was his birth certificate and finally there was no paper to process his application. The player and his club have been left frustrated to the extent that Betis considered sending officials to Lagos during the week to sort out the matter. I can not believe they are doing this to me in my own country. I'm desperate and do not know what to think. I want to go back, but they will not let me," said Nosa on Thursday.

This is not the first time the Spanish embassy will be treating Nigerian sports people with disdain. Last July, the Nigeria World Junior Athletics Championships delegation were shabbily treated and when the Embassy finally decided to grant them visas, the best athletes were denied.

-----------Ben Efe, Vanguard, Saturday, March 2, 2013