Labour strike grounds Super Eagles from Uyo camp

Labour strike grounds Super Eagles from Uyo camp

… Training canceled, Amokachi missing

The nationwide strike embarked by organised labour has affected eight Super Eagles from joining the squad in Uyo ahead of Friday night’s World Cup qualifier against South Africa.

Officials said the players are already in the country, but they are presently stranded, as they cannot connect local flights to Uyo.

The players affected are Calvin Bassey, Semi Ajayi, Paul Onuachu, Maduka Okoye, Bright Osayi-Samuel, Frank Onyeka, Alex Iwobi and Ademola Lookman.

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) is pressing for an increased salary for government workers due to the economic hardships in the country.

As a result, Monday’s evening training was called off and training will resume Tuesday morning, with the team expected to train twice.

Meanwhile, the duo of Alhassan Yusuf and Chidozie Awaziem trained separately from the group.

The newly appointed assistants of coach Finidi George were also present except for Daniel Amokachi, who was unavoidably absent.

The Super Eagles will welcome South Africa to the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo on Friday in continuation of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.

… May scuttle South Africa Wednesday’s arrival

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) nationwide strike, which commenced Monday may scuttle the travel plans of South Africa’s Banana Banana ahead of Friday’s crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying match billed for the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

It was gathered that the South African Football Association (SAFA) has informed their counterpart Nigeria Football Federation counterpart of their travel itinerary.

According to SAFA, “Its delegation of Bafana Bafana is expected to arrive in Nigeria on Wednesday, with the team already booked into Four Points By Sheraton Hotel in Ikot-Ekpene.”

The Organised Labour is demanding a new national minimum wage and reversal of the recent hike in electricity tariffs.

On the first day of the indefinite nationwide strike, Aviation staff and employees who joined the strike, led to significant disruptions to travel arrangements for the World Cup qualifiers.

Meanwhile, there are indications that the nationwide strike may linger on if the labour demands are not met, as the Federal Government has invited the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) to an emergency meeting at the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.

The meeting, according to labour, was called to broker solutions to the issues that led to industrial action and eventually get the labour to end the strike.