Coach Eric Chelle named Olusegun in his 23‑man squad, highlighting the trust placed in the player, but acknowledged the logistical setback.

At least seven players in total are reportedly caught in the visa bottleneck, exacting pressure on the team’s preparations.  Full squad training may be postponed until just before the match.

Nigeria will now likely head into the match with fewer than the full complement of players. The fixture is set for Friday, 10 October 2025, at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane, kicking off at 5 pm Nigerian time.

The visa complications add to other challenges for the Super Eagles, just as they hope to maximise their chances in a decisive qualifying campaign.

Editorial

We find in this episode a stark reminder that success in international football hinges not only on talent and tactics, but also on proper planning and logistics. The fact that a key winger like Olakunle Olusegun may be sidelined due to visa issues is frustrating and avoidable.

When a national team calls together players from multiple continents, every link in the chain matters. It is not enough to simply name a squad; one must ensure that travel, visas, permits and contingencies are handled ahead of schedule. The visa logjam reported affecting up to seven players suggests a breakdown in coordination somewhere.

We empathise with Coach Chelle, who must now plan for less than ideal conditions. Yet, it reflects poorly on stakeholders if such preventable administrative issues become obstacles to on field performance. We hold that while footballing excellence demands resilience, it should not require our players to battle bureaucracy before stepping onto the pitch.

From a competitive standpoint, losing a winger enmeshed in team strategy can unbalance formations, weaken attacking dynamics, and force last-minute adjustments. In crucial qualifiers where margins are slim, even a slight disruption can have outsized consequences. The team must now dig in deeper, mentally and tactically, to compensate.

We urge the Nigeria Football Federation, diplomatic bodies, and organising officials to review and strengthen their logistics protocols. The support staff, too, must anticipate and resolve such issues well in advance. Because in high-stakes contests, errors behind the scenes can spoil more than just schedules they can cost us results.

We believe football is as much about preparation as it is about flair and this hiccup must not define Nigeria’s campaign.

Did You Know?

1. 
   
2. Olakunle Olusegun currently plays for Pari Nizhny in Russia, on loan from Krasnodar.
   
   
3. Lesotho plays its home matches in South Africa’s stadiums due to infrastructural and logistical considerations.
   
   
4. The Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane has a capacity of about 43,500 and has hosted regional and international matches.
   
   
5. Nigeria’s national team, the Super Eagles, has participated in the FIFA World Cup six times (as of 2025).
   
   
6. Visa issues have disrupted preparations in past tournaments for other national teams, underlining the importance of early coordination between football federations and immigration authorities.