Nigeria Football; Time For Some Soul Searching
By Adewale Ajayi
Between 2015 and 2016 Nigeria did not qualify for all major football competitions and the excuse then was that the board was distracted.
Remember, the Super Eagles missed out of back to back nations cup, the Golden Eaglets and Flying Eagles didnt make the age grade AFCONs and our football rating dropped massively
Between 2017 and 2019, we qualified for virtually all the competitions. This was in the heat of the distractions from the Chris Giwa group but unfortunately, we got booted out in the first round of these competitions, disgraced and humbled.
For the first time in a long while our Golden Eaglets finished 4th at AFCON in Tanzania to qualify for the World Cup, our Flying Eagles too finished 4th in Niger to qualify for the Under 20 World Cup where they wobbled and fumbled to the second round before losing to Senegal.
If you ask me, the time for some real soul searching is now!
Are we really developing football in Nigeria or developing our pockets? Inbetween, our Super Eagles went out of the World cup in the first round while our Super Falcons are on the verge of another first round ouster at the World cup.
Pinnick promised us scientific football but has given us traditional excuses in return.
I am not interested in all the court cases, what I am interested in, is the results on the field. For 5years as NFF president we have had no reasons to celebrate whereas, under Aminu Maigari, we won the AFCON in 2013.
As football enthusiasts, we want to be happy. We want to celebrate a major trophy and the Nations cup in Egypt provides a perfect platform.
If after three years as Super Eagles chief coach, Rohr is not making promises and the NFF is not giving him a target, then it shows how unserious and unambitious we are as a people.
Failure to win the Nations cup in Egypt will mean that Gernot has failed and should resign honorably. We cannot continue to celebrate mediocrity.
As for you Mr Amaju you made promises in Warri in 2014, we have been patient for 5years, we are hungry for successes and we hope you will give us something to celebrate in Egypt. We will not take any more excuse for failure afteral Dalung has left you alone to breath some fresh air
Nigerians arise, the time to take back our football is now!