Nigeria captain John Obi Mikel and the Nigeria Football Federation have commiserated with the Brazilian football club, Chapecoense over the plane crash that claimed lives of 76 people.
The Chapecoense delegation were on their way to Colombia for the final of the Copa Sudamerica against Atletico Nacional on Wednesday, but the plane crashed at the Cerro El Gordo sector of the municipality of La Union, in the East of the department of Antioquia, whose capital is Medellín.
“Thoughts are with @ChapecoenseReal right now .. stay strong, the football family is with you ?? , ” tweeted Mikel.
The Nigeria Football Federation commented on social media : “Our thoughts are with @CBF_Futebol and Mgt. of Brazilian club @ChapecoenseReal following their loss in a plane crash #ForcaChape.”
Chapecoense earlier made arrangements to travel to Medellin on Monday in a chartered flight, which was not authorized by the Civil Aviation Agency of that country, so the team had to board a commercial plane that crashed last night shortly before they got to Medellin.
The nine crew members and seventy two passengers were expected to arrive the José María Córdova International Airport in Rionegro at 0500 hours GMT on Tuesday.