Charles Collins was trying ahead to his subsequent match within the Sudan Premier League when combating broke out within the nation on 15 April, turning town the place he lived right into a battle zone.
The 28-year-old Nigerian footballer, who performs for Khartoum aspect Haidob en Nahud, mentioned he needed to go away all his possessions behind, fleeing in simply the black shorts he was sporting, when battles between the military and a strong paramilitary group reached his neighbourhood of the Sudanese capital.
He was amongst 396 Nigerians who flew again to Abuja from Egypt this week, after escaping from Sudan in what many described as a harmful journey lasting a number of days.
“I’m coming again dwelling with simply this, simply my blanket,” he instructed the BBC at Abuja’s worldwide airport, swivelling to disclose a black backpack.
“I ran out of my home sporting simply shorts, it was a horrible expertise,” he mentioned.
Haidob, who had been solely promoted to the premier division this season, had been on target to qualify for the Caf Confederations Cup – Africa’s second most prestigious competitors.
The group misplaced 1-0 to Kober SC Bhari only a week earlier than combating began however remained in fourth positioned within the now-halted league.
However after what he went by way of, Collins doesn’t see himself going again to Sudan to proceed his profession.
A handful of footballers from Nigeria’s top-flight division have transferred to Sudan over time, discovering the highest golf equipment that play in continental competitions enticing.
‘It was a horrible expertise’
Collins, who has been in Sudan for three-and-a-half years after arriving from Mauritius membership Richie Moore Rovers, mentioned he misplaced every part he owned within the nation, together with $20,000 (£16,000) money.
He was combining soccer with some enterprise on the aspect, importing hair extensions into the nation on the market and had taken supply of a cargo eight days earlier than the combating broke out, which is now misplaced.
“There are lots of who got here again with nothing. No less than I got here again with a blanket,” he mentioned on arrival in Abuja, pointing to a person with a black polythene bag.
“He got here again with simply his meals.”
The evacuees had been airlifted in two planes – one from Nigerian industrial service Air Peace and a army plane – from Aswan in neighbouring Egypt. They’d been stranded for days on the Egyptian border due to issues with their visas.
Earlier than the combating broke out, greater than 5,000 Nigerians had been believed to reside in Sudan, largely college students. The nation is legendary for its Islamic Research and Classical Arabic, which many Nigerians had been learning.
Its reasonably priced pharmacy and medication schools had been additionally widespread with Nigerians.
There have been joyous scenes at Abuja’s airport because the evacuees had been met by relations and authorities officers.
Nonetheless, the trauma continues to be recent.
“It was a horrible expertise all through the journey,” Zainab Abdulqadir, a pupil, instructed the BBC.
She mentioned that her leg was swollen from sitting all evening in a automotive as they escaped Sudan with out water or meals.
“It was a scenario of utmost rigidity, concern and instability,” she mentioned.
Abdulazez Muiza, a pupil on the Africa Worldwide College in Khartoum, which is widespread with Nigerians, mentioned she mistook the primary gunshots for electrical sparks on the day combating began.
“It was so hectic, a few of us had been pregnant… however we thank God that we’re again dwelling.”
Ms Muiza, a first-year pupil, mentioned she hopes to return to Sudan when the combating is over.
Sudan’s ambassador to Nigeria, Muhammad Yusuf, has additionally pleaded with Nigerians getting back from the conflict-hit nation to contemplate returning as soon as peace returns.
He requested them to contemplate Sudan as their second nation, expressing optimism that the combating can be managed quickly.
“I am very sorry for what is occurring there however on the similar time I am very completely satisfied to have these evacuees coming from Sudan secure, no life is misplaced,” he was quoted by the Cable newspaper as saying.
Sadiya Farouk, the minister of humanitarian affairs and catastrophe administration, mentioned every returnee can be given $200 (£160) to allow them to settle again dwelling.
Nigeria had deployed 40 luxurious buses to take the evacuees to Egypt from the place they may very well be airlifted again dwelling.
However it’s not clear how lots of the 5,000 college students can be evacuated to Nigeria, as some had already made their very own plans, crossing into neighbouring international locations.
Most of the student-evacuees mentioned they might contemplate enrolling in Nigerian universities to proceed their schooling, however Collins doesn’t have that luxurious.
“I do not know what I’m going to do,” he mentioned.
“However I’m completely satisfied to be again, it was a horrible expertise.”
Further reporting by Joseph Jegede in Abuja