By Victor Enyinnaya on December 11, 2023

If you have without any prejudice been following the build up for next Africa Cup of Nations football summit billed for Cote D’ Ivoire  next year January 2024.  I’m referring to the efforts being put forward by the federal government via its agents.  The mobilization to say the very least is a way to go and signifies the zeal, positivity and realistic with which the country attaches to the national assignment.

The memento to this columnist has been so encouraging and looks to be in one accord. However, all these are done towards ensuring that the Super Eagles players are supported unparallel. To give the wholly new lads/crops in the team courage, sense of responsibility, strong will, focus, commitment to forthcoming AFCON the country won last in 2013 in South Africa.

Let me recall that this columnist was at the launch of such support earlier and the spirit was overwhelming and the enthusiasm remains on the lips of numerous fans of the Super Eagles who are very upbeat about sterling outing in the 2024 AFCON.   As I did say on this page the whole country is behind our flagship team on search for glory.

The entire country has been thirsty to drink from the most prestigious football diadem in the continent after ten years.  The crux of the matter presently in this context remains the players who will be on the field of play.  The whole country can rally round the team in huge support, but one thing is obvious and that is, only twenty-two players would represent this country of over 200 million citizens that football supporter ship runs deep in their veins are now handicapped and have also quickly turned their backs on the Super Eagles activities.

The boys and their technical crew have the sole right to determine which direction the pendulum would swing to. Truth and fears of many have been that the Super Eagles and her technical crew led by Portuguese Jose Peresie performed abysmally of late. Many have pointedly said the team goes down each passing day.

The work rate of the team has drastically reduced and many Nigerians have lost faith in the team as its unpredictability has equally been unprecedented. The genesis has been traced to when Amaju Pinnick started his very woeful sojourn in NFF.

This Delta State born football administrator started his tenure in NFF in controversial circumstances when he smuggled Rohr into handling the Super Eagles over the choice of Barrister Chris Green, then led technical committee choice.  The third grade coach as usual was forced on the national team.

The Franco-Germany coach used trial and error method through out his years in the team and when he was eventually sacked after much hue and cry on his under performance with the once upon a time high flying Super Eagles.

However, instead of going straight away for well established coach with character and pedigree, again the Amaju Pinnick bent on the complete destruction of the team went for Austin Eguaveon who could not qualify the country for the last World Cup held UAE that was after his failure to take the team to better placing at the last edition of AFCON held in Cameroun.

It was after those wobbling and fumbling by Amaju led NFF that he went for the man presently on the saddle who has been dragging the team deep down the valley. This coach has no track record where and what he has done great in his football coaching career.

He was as usual brought in through shoddy deals which have long been associated with NFF bigwigs. It is currently raging from all fronts.  It is obvious that the Super Eagles lack depth team. There is no department in the current team that is exceptional.  Players look none committed to the overall development of the team.  Now all eyes and talks are geared towards goalkeeping department.  Jose Peresie went to South Africa in search for competent goalkeeper to man the post for the team. The tall lad is Stanley Chimabili.

One prays the former Lobi Stars tall safe gloves would fill the gap in goal keeping department of the Super Eagles.  If that is finally found, what happens to the technical and tactical ineptitude of Jose Peresie?   It is unambiguously clear that Eagles team is beyond the capacity of the Portuguese.

The story of the Super Eagles and her head coach remains sad commentary. The NFF and Sports Minister are aware what the major problem of the team is and have preferred to always scratch the surface and also make the loudest noise on way forward for the team.  It remains laughable how a team, no matter the kind of first rate players it parades without a sound technically head coach, do anything meaningful.

Let me sound it emphatically clear that with Jose Peresie continued stay in the team would also mean the extension of the dismal performance for the Super Eagles.  Those backing him (Jose Peresie) as the head coach knew what they are gaining at the expense of Nigeria and her numerous football fans which the team is losing in doves.

The Federal government and its agencies are optimistic that Nigeria is due to win her fourth AFCON and the next one to be held in Cote D’ Ivoire is the target.  However, what these agencies are over looking is the quality of the products the nation will be presenting to compete in the forthcoming tournament in the West African country come next Month.

The government and its agencies are spending fortunes in advocacy campaigns but the big question is, how prepared are the Super Eagles for tedious task ahead.  Gusau, Sports Minister, Jose Peresie  must answer these  mind bugging questions now or never.

This columnist and Daily Sports would continue to be in the forefront with these relevant questions and more as the count down for Cote D’ Ivoire 2024 AFCON beacons.  Keep shooting hard till next week, Meanwhile we wait!!               

Source Daily Sports Nigeria

Posted December 11, 2023

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