Former Super Eagles winger Victor Moses has been left stranded in Dubai following travel disruptions caused by escalating tensions in the Middle East, delaying his arrival at Kazakhstan Premier League side FC Kaisar, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
The club confirmed that Moses and fellow Nigerian forward Imoh Ezekiel both missed their season opener against FK Zhenys on March 8 due to the travel complications.
Moses had been preparing to return to Kazakhstan to join his new club when a rocket reportedly landed near an airport in the region, prompting the closure of surrounding airspace and the suspension of several flights, including routes heading toward Kazakhstan.
As a result, the former Chelsea winger has been unable to leave Dubai, preventing him from linking up with his teammates ahead of the new league campaign.
FC Kaisar head coach Andrey Ferapontov said the club is monitoring the situation while awaiting the arrival of both Nigerian players.
“We’re expecting two more foreign players. You’re probably familiar with the situation with Moses and Ezekiel. For various reasons, they couldn’t make it to the championship. Moses can’t fly out of Dubai due to the political situation,” Ferapontov told Vesti.
He added, “We’re waiting for him. When they rejoin, we’ll have a full squad and a good idea of their fitness.”
Moses joined FC Kaisar in January on a one-year contract after leaving Luton Town, adding another chapter to a career that has spanned more than a decade across Europe. The 35-year-old began his professional journey with Crystal Palace, moved to Wigan Athletic, and later signed for Chelsea in 2012, where he won the Premier League title in the 2016/17 season.
He also had loan spells at Liverpool, Stoke City, and West Ham United, as well as stints abroad with Fenerbahçe, Inter Milan, and Spartak Moscow. Internationally, Moses earned 38 caps for Nigeria between 2012 and 2018, scoring 12 goals and playing a key role in the country’s Africa Cup of Nations triumph in 2013.
His compatriot, Ezekiel, who was part of Nigeria’s bronze-winning squad at the 2016 Rio Olympics, is also expected to join FC Kaisar after leaving Albanian club KF Pogradeci.
Based in Kyzylorda, FC Kaisar is among the founding members of the Kazakhstan Premier League and hopes the arrival of the experienced Nigerian duo will strengthen the squad once travel conditions stabilise.
