Knocks for S’Africa over Junior D’Tigers visa denial

Several Nigerians have taken to social media to shade the South African Consulate for initially denying the Nigerian U-18 boys’ basketball players visas for the AfroBasket Men’s U-18 competition in South Africa, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.

The head of delegation, Ugo Udezue, confirmed that the team were later issued visas and are expected to arrive in Pretoria on Wednesday, a day later than their expected arrival date.

Reports emerged on Monday that the South African Consulate at the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, refused to grant the Junior D’Tigers visas as the team missed their trip for the championship and subsequent FIBA World Championship.

The Nigerian boys were billed to face Egypt on Tuesday.

Despite intervention from the Nigeria Basketball Federation, which reported the incident to FIBA Africa, the South African hosts, and Nigeria’s Foreign Affairs Ministry, the young boys were denied entry on Monday while their female counterparts who were camped in Lagos on their return from Ivory Coast where both teams finished as winners of the FIBA Africa Zone 3 qualifiers were granted visas.

The act by the South African Consulate has forced several Nigerians to swarm social media and take a knock at their government.

Joseph Akpanessien wrote on Facebook, “Thinking about the history we share with South Africa, one would have thought that ours would be the strongest of ties. Unfortunately, who can now speak of a united Africa?”

Valodin Worldwide added, “An African country denying visa to another African country. Isn’t that a shame for Africans? If it’s Europe or American countries, they wouldn’t dare it.”

Emeje Matthew said, “South Africa are afraid of the unknown. Nigeria will always be ahead of them in all areas.”

“This is a pure diplomatic rascality. I therefore think it is high time we nationalise MTN Nigeria. There are several diplomatic debacles we can create to keep South Africa where it belongs. We can pass a vote of no confidence on the South African High Commissioner in Nigeria,” Christian D’elysee suggested.

An aggrieved Yomi Ajanaku opined, “This is completely unacceptable. South Africa must be careful with the way they treat other African countries if we really want to build a better continent for our future generations. What we need in Africa right now is unity and not division.

“Nigeria is too strong to be treated like this, denying a national sports team from Nigeria from representing her country in a tournament hosted by South Africa is completely unacceptable and this may cause serious diplomatic tension between the two countries.”