Super Eagles vice-captain and Trabzonspor of Turkey midfielder, Ogenyi Onazi has lauded the Leadership of the Nigeria Football Federation over efforts put in World Cup preparation.
If you feel shortchanged watching the Eagles in Morocco at the CHAN tournament, it could be because Coach Salisu Yusuf did not select the ‘absolute best’ players currently in the NPFL.
EX-International, Wilson Oruma who has been battling emotional disorder after being defrauded N2 billion by fake oil businessmen has been offered a National team role by the NFF President Amaju Pinnick.
The 2018 FIFA World Cup program by the NFF has been lauded by Brila Media CEO, Dr. Larry Izamoje who says the FA leadership have their “Thinking Caps on.”
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and Gernot Rohr have agreed and penned a two-year extension that will see the German tactician remain the Super Eagles Technical Adviser till 2021.
The NFF President has called on match commissioners of the elite division of the domestic game to improve their capacity and delivery in order to help attract corporate interest and support.
CHAN 2018: The Home Based Super Eagles team are now likely to arrive their base in Morocco ahead of the CAF championship on Monday, 8th January.
Earlier Plans to have at least a week’s acclimatisation training in Morocco before their CHAN 2018 opener against Rwanda on January 15 appears to have hit a barrier.
It was gathered from a football official that the Nigeria Football Federation is yet to sort out “a few things” concerning the well being of the CHAN 2018 team in Morocco.
But hopefully the Super Eagles may now leave on Monday right on time for their first game against Rwanda who have been camping in Tunisia since January 1.
They also played a game against Sudan yesterday in Sousse, Tunisia.
“The team is still around (because) the NFF is trying to put a few things in order. It would have been good if we were in Morocco for at least a week to get used to the weather in Tangier… It is well,” said the official yesterday.
However, team captain, Ikechukwu Ezenwa assured that the players will not let the country down even as they expect tough CHAN 2018 competition from their group C opponents.
“First of all, we are going to take each game as it comes, we have had very good preparation so far and the unity in the team is awesome and with that, I am confident of a better outing than the last time in Rwanda.
“Rwanda, Libya and Equatorial Guinea are very good sides when it comes to the CHAN 2018 tournament. Look at the last edition, Rwanda were very tough and they performed better than us.”
President of the Nigeria football federation, Amaju Melvin Pinnick has described the outgoing year 2017 as a relatively Excellent year.
In a communique released on the Football federation’s website, the NFF top man, Pinnick emphasized on the successes of the body on and off the pitches in 2017.
The NFF President is also very confident that the incoming year will be more glorious as we enter into a FIFA World cup year.
In the year 2017, the Super Eagles qualified for the FIFA World Cup finals with a match to spare from a so –called ‘Group of Death’;
The Eagles B qualified for the African Nations Championship starting in Morocco in a forthnight and; the U20 and U17 girls swept aside opposition to reach the final round of qualification for their respective FIFA Women’s World Cup finals taking place in 2018.
Off the field, a string of victories in the boardroom has given Nigerian Football a louder voice in international football politics and; a number of worthwhile sponsorship deals with corporate organizations has greatly reduced the financial burden on the nation’s supreme football –ruling body.
“Largely, it has been an excellent year, on and off the field. The bookmakers, analysts and football fans all over the world thought we were going to find it difficult in our World Cup qualifying group, but we made it to Russia with a match to spare.” Pinnick stated.
