1 month ago
24
The Guild of Sports Editors of Nigeria, representing the nation’s sports media managers, has expressed profound disappointment regarding the Nigeria Football Federation’s (NFF) absorption of the Super Eagles’ quest to suffice for the 2026 World Cup tournament.
Currently sitting 3rd successful Group C of the African qualifying series, Nigeria has amassed 11 points, trailing down South Africa with 17 points and Benin Republic astatine 14 points, with lone 2 games remaining. The apical squad successful the radical volition unafraid automatic qualification for the World Cup, which volition beryllium co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, portion the second-placed squad volition person a accidental to enactment successful the playoffs if they fertile among the 4 champion runners-up.
As it stands, Nigeria’s chances of adjacent reaching the playoff signifier seemed bleak unless some South Africa and Benin Republic falter drastically, coupled with the Super Eagles securing wins successful their remaining matches with important scorelines.
In a connection signed by Guild President, Mr Tony Ubani, and Secretary Dare Esan, the athletics editors lamented that the Super Eagles’ mediocre show could person been avoided had the squad absorption prepared adequately pursuing the announcement of the qualifying operation successful 2023.
“It is unfortunate that those liable for starring our World Cup run delayed taking decisive actions, permitting indiscipline to undermine our bid to enactment successful the top shot spectacle,” the connection read.
The Guild noted, “We watched successful dismay arsenic the NFF took sizeable clip to name a substantive manager aft dismissing Mr. Jose Peseiro, who garnered conscionable 2 points from 2 matches. Furthermore, the absorption of the Finidi George concern revealed a deficiency of urgency successful addressing the rising interest implicit the team’s qualifying prospects.”
Critically, the NFF’s oversight successful allowing contented creators entree to the Super Eagles’ campy stands successful stark opposition to practices observed by different nations, which prohibit specified distractions, including mobile phones and gadgets.
The editors highlighted the NFF’s misjudgement successful remaining soundless portion Zimbabwe and Lesotho opted to big matches successful South Africa, providing the second a important vantage successful the qualifying race. “This statement allowed South Africa to play six of their 9 games astatine home, and yet the NFF failed to recognise the implications,” they stated. They besides pointed retired that players were permitted to get astatine campy astatine their leisure without facing repercussions for tardiness.
Regarding preparations for the important lucifer against Rwanda, they noted, “Prior to Nigeria’s past location fixture, the Super Eagles did not commence afloat grooming until the Wednesday earlier the Saturday match, arsenic Coach Eric Chelle lone had entree to his implicit squad that day. This reflects a deficiency of lessons learned from our nonaccomplishment to suffice for the past World Cup successful Qatar.”
The editors called om the Federal Government to put successful the rehabilitation of nationalist stadia successful Abuja and Lagos, on with facilities successful Kaduna and Enugu, suggesting that improved infrastructure would person bolstered the Super Eagles’ campaign, saying providing alternatives for the squad would person helped rejuvenate their run erstwhile winning games successful Uyo became difficult
“We mislaid our World Cup summons owed to location draws against South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Lesotho, jeopardising the full campaign. This is genuinely unfortunate.”
To remedy the situation, the Guild urged the Federal Government to assistance the NFF successful ensuring the Super Eagles look victorious successful their last 2 matches, which could perchance presumption the state to suffice for the African playoffs arsenic 1 of the champion 4 second-placed teams. “The Super Eagles cannot spend to miss different World Cup,” they concluded.
English (US) ·