Daniel Igali, the President, Nigeria Wrestling Federation (NWF) on Thursday described the denial of visa to a wrestler and a coach to attend the Olympic qualifiers in Istanbul as “uncalled for”.
Igali told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on telephone that he spent two days at the Turkish embassy trying to secure a visa for two wrestlers “and all to no avail’’.
“I was at the Turkish Embassy in Abuja on Wednesday and Thursday trying without success to get visas for Onyebuchi Blessing, 75kg female wrestler and Victor Kodei, a coach, scheduled to attend the last Olympic wrestling qualifying tournament in Istanbul from May 6 to May 8.
“The visa denial has sadly brought to an end all the efforts of an athlete who worked so hard for an opportunity to attempt to qualify for the Olympics and become an Olympian for her country.
“I am surprised that Turkey of all countries can deny visa to Nigerian athletes after fulfilling all laid down protocols. It is humiliating.
“I will be sending a strongly worded protest letter to the International Olympic Committee regarding this Olympic disenfranchisement,” he said.
Igali said that the reason given by them was not tenable.
“I want to believe that they know their country is hosting the qualifiers and why would you tell me it would take four to five working days to process a visa for an athlete that is billed to compete.
“Of what use is the visa when issued after the tournament has been concluded,” the NWF president asked. (NAN)
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