Nigeria Federation In Race Against Time To Process Visa To France For Porto Defender Awaziem

The Nigeria Football Federation is battling to process a visa for Porto rising star Chidozie Awaziem, with only four days left before the Super Eagles tackle Mali in an international friendly in Rouen, France.

It has come to light that the central defender does not have a valid residence permit which would have enabled him travel to France without a visa, and to make matters worse he only applied for a visa to France on Monday, May 23rd, according to the player’s intermediary.

“We are working on Chidozie getting a visa to France, the Nigeria Football Federation is trying to get him a visa from Abuja,” said agent Babawo Mohammed to allnigeriasoccer.com.

“The NFF officials are talking with Porto directly. He has not been issued the visa at this moment, he applied today.

“His residence permit is still being processed and will be out before next season. He was playing for Porto with a temporary residence permit.”

The 19-year-old Awaziem, who trained with the Golden Eaglets prior to his move to Portugal, played the first forty five minutes of Porto’s shoot-out loss to Sporting Braga in the final of the Taça de Portugal on Sunday.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel