Nigeria's Dream Team, survives plane crash on their way to Gambia

The Nigeria’s U-23 team, fondly called Dream Team VI, escaped what could have been a possible plane crash on their way to Gambia on Sunday morning, according to goal.com.

The dream team, had been heading to the West African nation towards perfecting strategies for the African U23 Championship scheduled to take place in Senegal.

The team was forced to opt for Gamabia after their trip to Morocco was cancelled owing to visa issues.

Goal learnt through one of Nigeria’s U23 officials that the pilot of the Arik Airline plane was forced to make an emergency landing in the Ghanaian capital, Accra due to unexpected technical difficulties.

"Thank God for his goodness and his mercies we escaped plane crash on our way to Gambia, the pilot had to make an emergency landing in Acccra we are still in Accra,”

A senior official of the team told goal.com after the incident. However, a statement from the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) on the matter indicated that the team has arrived Gambia safely.

“The U-23 National Team delegation has arrived in The Gambia for a 10 –day training program ahead of the 2nd Africa U-23 Cup of Nations taking place in Senegal,” said the statement.

It statement, went further to say: “Thenff.com learnt that the ARIK Air aircraft conveying the team from Lagos lost a tyre on landing at the Kotoka International Airport, Accra.

"The airplane that was on ground in Accra was then deployed for the purpose of flying the team to The Gambia, but that also lost an engine on take–off and the pilot had to make a quick return.

“However, ARIK provided another aircraft that flew the delegation to The Gambia through Dakar.”

But before the team departed the shores of the country on Sunday morning, NFF 2nd Vice President/LMC chairman, Shehu Dikko, charged the players and their officials to do the nationl proud at the Africa U-23 Cup of Nations, where Africa’s flagbearers to the men’s football tournament of next year’s Olympics will emerge.

Responding, Coach Samson Siasia thanked the NFF for sending a top member of the executive to see the team off, assuring that they would not be deterred by any difficulty they are going through right now, and that the team is poised to pick an Olympic ticket for the country.

Meanwhile, Coach Siasia has wielded the big stick by dropping Kingsley Sokari, Nzube Anaezemba and Daniel Etor for what he termed indiscipline.

Siasia said the players were sent packing after they requested to leave the camp to go for their Club’s (Enyimba) last NPFL game of the season against Sunshine Stars in Lagos, even after he (Siasia) had told all the players they could not leave camp.

“I feel bad in taking this decision, but discipline must be maintained for us to achieve success in Senegal.

"All players in camp were told not to leave camp as the team would be traveling this weekend to The Gambia for pre–Championship training, only for these three players to come and ask to be allowed to go play for their club as they wanted to be part of the victory parade.

"I had no option but to allow them leave and also in the process, leave them out of the team.”

Siasia then wished them well in their pursuit of club glory, while urging them to wish the national team well.

FIFA U-17 World Cup record goalscorer, Victor Osihmen, who was invited alongside three of his victorious team -mates, joined up with the U-23 team to The Gambia.

Source - Telegraph