Nigeria Wrestlers are set to miss the much anticipated World Wrestling Championships in Paris due to flight delay by Air Maroc airline.
ACLSports.com gathered that the flight of the team was defective on Sunday and the Air line brought a small plane to airlift only passengers that missed their flights yesterday.
World Bronze medallist, Odunayo Adekuoroye, seven-time African champion, Blessing Oborududu and 2014 Commonwealth Games gold medalist, Aminat Adeniyi must arrive in Paris on Tuesday noon if they to hoist the nation’s flag at the 2017 Senior World Wrestling Championships.
The trio will wrestle on Wednesday, August 23, 2017 as weight control begins on Tuesday.
All Africa Games Gold medalist, Mercy Genesis will wrestle on Thursday, while Amas Daniel and John Emmanuel will be on the mat on 26th August which is on a Saturday.
It will be recalled that the Nigerian wrestlers secured their tickets last week for the championship.
Commenting on the latest development, President Nigeria Wrestling Federation, Daniel Igali, said the wrestlers are looking at flights on Air France and Lufthansa for tonight after missing Air Maroc flight.
“And for the records, going to a tournament a day ahead of weight control is normal practice.
“In fact most of the European nations will come tomorrow for weight control.
“Mercy Genesis competes on the 24th, so she can come Tuesday. Amas Daniel and John Emmanuel compete on the 26th they can still come by a subsequent Air Maroc flight. But Odunayo Adekuoroye, Aminat Adeniyi and blessing must be in Paris latest by noon for tomorrow’s weight control,” he said.
Igali who arrived Paris earlier for the announcement of the 2018 hosting right expressed disappointment over the manner the wrestling team who are also the country’s ambassador were treated.
“I was very disappointed in the shenanigans of Air Maroc and questioned if they would not have made space on the flight for Moroccan athletes going to a world championships,” he said.
It is worth noting that the Bayelsa State Government and well wishers of the Nigeria Wrestling Federation bailed out the team to attend the Senior World Championships in Paris.
