Super Falcons Still Without Official Training Kits as Morocco Customs Delay Continues

Nigeria’s Super Falcons continue to prepare for matches at the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco using outdated jerseys and improvised training gear, as their new kits remain stuck with Moroccan customs, Sport360NG reports.

Despite assurances from Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) President Ibrahim Gusau that the situation would be resolved by Friday or Saturday last week, the kits have yet to reach the players. A team official confirmed that there had been no progress.

“The kits are currently in Casablanca, held up by Moroccan customs. DHL Global has tried to facilitate their release and deliver them to the team hotel, but without success,” the official said. “I even travelled to Rabat to engage with officials from the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) to seek assistance in expediting the process.”

The official added that the customs procedures vary from country to country and can be unpredictable. “Sometimes things go smoothly, other times they are quite difficult,” he said. “We were hopeful everything would be resolved within a couple of days, but that hasn’t happened.”

UK-based Nigerian journalist Osasu Obayiuwana also reported on Sunday that the kits, which were supplied by Nike, remain in the warehouse of Morocco’s customs and excise authority (ADII), even after the Falcons have completed their group stage games.

According to NFF president Gusau, the kits only arrived in Morocco a day after Nigeria’s opening match at the tournament. “They got to Morocco last Monday,” he said. “It’s really a logistics issue. The shipment was a bit delayed, and the coaches sometimes have to make tactical decisions based on the situation.”

Meanwhile, the Super Falcons have progressed to the quarter-finals, where they are set to take on the second-placed team from Group A on Thursday.

Nigeria remains the most successful team in WAFCON history, having won nine of the 12 editions since the tournament’s expansion in 1998. The Falcons have reached at least the semi-finals in every edition they’ve contested.