OndoReporter | Eagles to fly Egypt Air to Alexandria

OndoReporter | Eagles to fly Egypt Air to Alexandria

Ahead of the high profile 2017 African Cup of
Nations (AFCON) qualifier between the Super
Eagles and the Pharaohs of Egypt next week,
the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has
concluded arrangements for the team to fly to
Alexandria via Egypt Air.

The first leg of the two-legged encounter will
take place in Kaduna on March 25 while the
return leg has been scheduled for the Egyptian
city of Alexandria on March 29.

President of the NFF, Amaju Pinnick told
journalists in Abuja yesterday that the choice
of Air Egypt was reached in consultation with
the acting Super Eagles Coach Samson Siasia.
Pinnick revealed that the federation also
considered the option of travelling in a
chartered flight but settled for Egypt Air
because of several considerations including
the comfort of the team, the regular flights of
the airline from Nigeria as well as over N35
million naira that will be saved due to the new
exchange rate.

“We have different options, we have Arik Air as
our partners but they too are facing tough
times. Everything you are doing now is in
foreign currency so even if they say they are
going to take $250,000 to fly the team, you
know how much that is in Naira. It is over N70
million and they will have to pay landing and
parking charges.

“But we looked at the Egypt Air who operate
three flights each day from Nigeria; Kano,
Lagos and Abuja. We know that using a
chartered fight will be very convenient just as
Egypt Air. Using the Egypt Air we will be
saving a minimum of N35 to N40 million naira.
We will leave Abuja on Saturday by 11.30 and
get to Cairo same day and from Cairo to
Alexandria is just about 20 minutes by air and
about one hour by road.

“By Sunday and Monday they will train and on
Tuesday they will play the match and we get
out. It is not like Chad where you may not get
the connecting flight. So looking at cost we
also have to look at other operational
activation and interestingly when I discussed
this option with Siasia he bought it because
that money could assist us in paying the
match bonus of the players, and that is a man
who is thinking.”

The president also assured Nigerians that his
federation is doing everything necessary to get
the country qualify for the continental
championship.