Mar 3 • 19:05 UTC 🇶🇦 Qatar Al Jazeera

Stuck for 30 Hours at the Border: Esteghlal Tehran Professional Player Tells Details of His Escape After the Bombing

A Haitian player for Esteghlal Tehran, Dokens Nazon, recounts his harrowing 30-hour ordeal at the Iran-Azerbaijan border amid intense bombings.

Dokens Nazon, a professional footballer from Haiti playing for Esteghlal Tehran, described the terrifying experience he faced as he attempted to escape from Iran during escalating bombings. He revealed that he had been given permission to leave the country due to an injury but chose to stay when the coaching staff changed, hoping to attend a World Cup visa appointment in France. Just as he was about to board a flight, he received alarming news from a friend that the war sirens had started, prompting the sudden cancellation of the flight.

After the flight was canceled, Nazon found himself in a chaotic situation at the airport, with passengers in panic as the captain announced the bombing had begun. He maintained his composure while witnessing the chaos around him. He later joined a bus heading back to Tehran and described the distressing moment when they passed by a bomb explosion near the road. With no flights available, he resolved to travel overland to Azerbaijan, attempting to escape the danger surrounding him.

This ordeal highlights the precarious situation many expatriates find themselves in during conflicts, where the desire to play professionally must be weighed against personal safety. Nazon's account sheds light on the broader impact of conflict on sports professionals and raises questions about their safety and wellbeing in volatile regions. His journey underscores both the risks athletes face and the human stories that emerge from geopolitical strife.

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