Two professional football players of the Nigeria national football team – Taiwo Awoniyi and Emmanuel Dennis – are currently not able to join their Nottingham Forest team in Spain for the pre-season training due to the Schengen visa procedures.
Both football players who joined Nottingham Forest last season are hoping to be able to join their teammates as soon as possible, with the club manager, Steve Cooper, saying that they are doing everything they can to resolve the issue.
Cooper stressed that the team is hoping for Awoniyi and Dennis to enter Spain in time for the upcoming pre-season friendly with Levante that is scheduled to take place this Saturday, and the same stressed that their arrival is important.
The other players of Nottingham Forest who do not need a visa to enter Spain and those who already hold the required documents touched down in Spain on July 16.
On the next day, the team immediately started training, saying that they expected a tough first season.
Moreover, yesterday, July 18, Nottingham Forest had a friendly with Valencia without Awoniyi and Dennis there.
“Keen to get some players back. Obviously, a lot of players are still not with us through injury and some availability issues, but we’ve got to really focus on the guys that are with us at the moment, that we feel are going to be part of the squad, and get as much out of them as we can. When the other guys return, hopefully, that will help us even more,” Cooper said after Valencia friendly.
Nonetheless, he did not mention when Awoniyi and Dennis are expected to have their documents ready and reach Spain to train with the rest of the team.
While the authorities did not make an official statement on the matter, it is believed that the two players will be able to get their visas soon and join their teammates.
Awoniyi and Dennis are both required to obtain a Schengen visa before reaching any Schengen Area member state, as they are not eligible for visa-free entry due to their nationality.
Similar to the two players, all the other citizens of Nigeria also have to undergo visa procedures when planning to enter the bloc.
Nigerians applying for a Schengen visa are required to submit the completed visa application form, two identity photographs, their passport, and a roundtrip flight itinerary.
Moreover, Schengen visa applicants must also submit proof of accommodation, proof of having purchased travel health insurance, proof of enough financial means, and proof of paid visa fee, among others.
