Nigeria U-23 coach, Samson Siasia, has confirmed the kidnap of his mother, Madam Ogere Siasia.
Siasia, who is on national duty with the Dream Team VI in the Gambia, expressed his state of “confusion” on hearing the news of his mother’s abduction.
According to the ex-Super Eagles coach, his mum, aged 72, was kidnapped in his hometown by three gunmen on motorcycle on Tuesday.
He explained that the abductors fired several shots in the air before carrying out their devilish act.
“Right now I am confused. From the story I got, three men on motorbike stormed my parents’ house in my village Odoni in Bayelsa State, shot sporadically into the air before taking my old mother away on a bike.”
Siasia however pleaded with the kidnappers to release his mum so he can concentrate totally on the task of qualifying the country for the male football event at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
“What do they expect from me?” asked the former international who recently complained about not been paid.
He added: “I don’t have money. I am right now on national duty, and need all the time to concentrate on this very important national task.
“So I beg them to please release my mother so that I can concentrate on this task of qualifying the U23 national team for the men’s football event of the Rio Olympics.”
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) also added its voice by appealing passionately to the kidnappers to release the old woman.
On learning of the unfortunate incident on Tuesday morning, NFF President Amaju Pinnick was downcast.
“This is quite disturbing. We are just preparing for a crucial 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying match, and the U23 boys are already in The Gambia for a pre-Cup of Nations training camp. Why this?” Pinnick asked.
“All we can do is to appeal to the kidnappers to free Samson Siasia’s aged mother. Samson is on a critical national assignment presently and the last he needs is this kind of distraction.”
Coach Siasia and his U-23 Eagles are currently in Gambia on a 10-day training camp ahead of the Africa U-23 Cup of Nations taking place in Senegal.
