Nigerian footballer in Zambian prison gets help from Junior Ajayi and others

Nigerian footballer Yusuf Balogun who is held in Zambian prison as a prohibited immigrant has received donations from Junior Ajayi and other Nigerians.

OmaSports can confirm that a sum of ₦310,000 has been donated so far through his agent to get Yusuf an air ticket to get him out of Zambian prison.

Junior Ajayi who now plays for Al Ahly is a former teammate of Yusuf while they were in Nigeria donated a sum of ₦200,000 and the remaining sum came from two other well meaning Nigerians.

Chairman of Nigerian Diaspora Commission Abike Dabiri also put her voice into the situation by suggesting necessary steps to be taken.

Yusuf was detained by Zambia immigration department as a “prohibited immigrant” for overstaying in the country.

He was signed by Zambian club Mufulira Wanderers in May 2019 but had his contract terminated three months later and the club refused to give him an air ticket out of Zambia.

He tried to save himself by trialling at several clubs but was unsuccessful. A prison officer where Yusuf is being held confirmed he’s not convicted but had to be kept because he doesn’t have an air ticket to return to Nigeria.