SCORENigeria has learnt that Belgium-based striker Victor Boniface, who is one of the leading scorers in the UEFA Europa League with five goals, stayed away from the Super Eagles for 2023 AFCON qualifiers against Guinea Bissau after he was called up but without a flight ticket accompanying the invite.
“Boniface expected his invitation letter to come with a return flight ticket,” a source informed SCORENigeria
“He could not understand why he has to buy his ticket and then be reimbursed by the NFF thereafter.”
It has been known that the NFF have often failed to refund the cost of flight tickets of invited players.
The Super Eagles are owed a staggering 19 match bonuses dating several years.
Boniface, who has attracted interest from top Italian clubs including Napoli, has represented Nigeria at U20 level.
The 22-year-old centre-forward has netted seven goals in 27 appearances in the Belgian top league for Union St.Gilloise, who besides pushing Genk for the leadership of the league for the regular season, are also in the quarterfinal of the Europa League.
Corruption has eaten deep in Nigeria. A player coming for national assignment should purchse his own ticket. That is rubbish and nonsense by NFF. No wonder some foreign born players refused to switch allegiance to Nigeria.
This is still sign of structural decay in progress .