NFF disowns press statement criticising Super Eagles players

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has distanced itself from a post-match connection that criticised immoderate Super Eagles players pursuing the team’s 1-1 gully with South Africa successful a 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier.

The statement, issued by the NFF’s Director of Communications, Ademola Olajire, singled retired guardant Cyriel Dessers and skipper William Troost-Ekong for criticism.

It accused Dessers of being sluggish and faulted Ekong for the ain extremity that gave Bafana Bafana the lead.

However, NFF General Secretary,  Mohammed Sanusi, said connected Wednesday that the connection did not correspond the authoritative presumption of the Federation.

“I saw the merchandise conscionable similar everyone other did. Nobody successful the Federation is blessed with it,” Sanusi said.

“The NFF did not authorise that statement. We person large respect for each the players. Blaming an idiosyncratic for a squad effect is unfair.”

He added that the Federation regards the South Africa lucifer arsenic a corporate effort and volition not enactment attempts to scapegoat immoderate player.

“When we win, it’s a squad victory. When we lose, it’s besides collective. No subordinate should beryllium singled out,” Sanusi said.

He described the targeted disapproval of Troost-Ekong arsenic unjustified, noting that the defender had antecedently been celebrated arsenic the Most Valuable Player astatine the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) successful Côte d’Ivoire.

“It was an unfortunate ain goal. His volition was to wide the ball. Anyone who knows shot understands that specified things happen,” helium said.

Sanusi besides expressed assurance successful the team’s unity, revealing that efforts were ongoing to regroup and refocus up of the remaining qualifiers and AFCON.

“Our location is successful order. We’re preparing for the remainder of the qualifiers and the AFCON successful Morocco,” helium said.

“There’s nary occupation with our players oregon coaching crew. Our narration remains cordial. The authorities and the NFF are arrogant of the players’ efforts.”

The Federation had initially praised Calvin Bassey for his equalising extremity and lamented the team’s nonaccomplishment to person second-half chances.

But Sanusi made it wide that interior disciplinary enactment would beryllium taken implicit the unauthorised release.

“I tin guarantee you the NFF volition instrumentality enactment connected the matter,” helium said.

Nigeria presently beryllium 3rd successful Group C of the CAF World Cup qualifiers with 11 points from 8 matches. South Africa pb the radical with 17 points.

The Super Eagles indispensable present triumph their remaining games against Lesotho and Benin Republic,  and anticipation different results spell their mode to unafraid qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. (NAN) 

The station NFF disowns property connection criticising Super Eagles players appeared archetypal connected Vanguard News.