Former Super Eagles striker, Victor Nosa Ikpeba has taken a swipe at players and coaches of the youth national team, Flying Eagles, following their inability to place among the top three teams at the 2019 African U-20 Cup of Nations in Niger Republic.
Ikpeba declared heatedly during a cable television programme monitored by sports247.ng that the side’s coaching crew is to blame for not building a formidable team, but also slammed the players for failing to live up the expectations of Nigerian soccer fans.
The 1997 African Footballer of The Year faulted excuses raised by some players that they were made to play out their normal positions on the pitch, as he said any player worth his salt should be able to do well in any role assigned by the coaches.
However, ‘The Prince of Monaco’ reserved the larger chunk of blame for the Flying Eagles’ technical crew, led by Paul Osahon Aigbogun, as he gave a stern verdict that the gaffer built the worst set of Nigerian under-20 national team he has ever seen.
“I don’t blame the boys that much,” Ikpeba stated on his return to the TV analyst’s chair. “but I will blame the team’s technical crew.
“The African Youth Championship is our birthright; why should we go there and finish fourth.
“I think, if the team spirit is high, all these excuses won’t come up after their poor performance in Niger Republic.
“All the same, we are all happy we qualified for the forthcoming FIFA World Youth Championship in Poland in May.
“I want to charge (the) side to go back to the drawing board and put things together ahead of the competition.”
