Warri Wolves’ CAF Campaign In Danger

What appears to be an uphill task awaits Nigeria’s only surviving team in the CAF Confederations Cup, Warri Wolves, in Addis Ababa tomorrow, as the Ethiopian Embassy has allegedly denied some of their influential players visas to enter the country.

Wolves defeated Ethiopian Club, Dedebit FC 2-0 at the Warri City Stadium in the first leg. They jetted out yesterday to Addis Ababa.

The Club’s Media Officer, Moses Etu, alleged that the Ethiopian Embassy has stopped two of their influential players from making the trip on the ground that their passports validity is not up to six months. The affected players are first choice goalkeeper, Okiemute Odah and attacker Onyekachi Okafor.

Even the Club’s Media Officer, Etu, was not left out, as the Ethiopian Embassy allegedly rejected his international passport on the ground that it will expire in six months time. Officials of Ethiopian Embassy could not be reached for comment yesterday.

However, technical officials of Warri Wolves have called up goalkeeper Tega Iriose to replace Okiemute Odah, who was in goal in the first leg in Warri, which ended 2-0 in favour of Wolves.

Apart from the duo of Odah and Okafor, Wolves will also miss the services of their inspirational captain, Super Eagles defender, Azubuike Egwuekwe, who is nursing injury.

Among those to make the trip to Addis Ababa yesterday were goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi, Semiu Liadi, Joseph Eyimofe, Goodluck Onamado, Gbolahan Salami, Abu Azeez and Ikechukwu Ibenegbu.

Onamado told The Guardian yesterday that despite the forced absence of some of their key players by Ethiopian Embassy, they would do everything possible to scale through the hurdles in Addis Ababa and qualify to the next round of the competition.