Ever since the draws for the 2022 W/Cup Qualifiers came out, there has been some controversies surrounding the Super Eagles team from controversial tweets from supporters, to the team’s head coach contract issue.
But today, days after the controversies including the hacking of Super Eagles Instagram account, the General Secretary of NFF (Nigeria Football Federation), Dr Mohammed Sanusi, said today that the Super Eagles will not underrate any of their 2022 FIFA World Cup Africa Group C qualifiers opponents, even as he expressed optimism that Nigeria will emerge from the pool.
Super Eagles, which have been placed in Group C with other African countries like Cape Verde, Central Africa Republic and Liberia, it is only the winner of the group that will be qualified for the knock out phase
In his official statement he said,
“I think our group looks good on the surface, but I tell you, all the countries in this group are good and tough and the Super Eagles cannot afford to underrate any one of them. There are no more minnows in African football, and as such, we must approach every game with all seriousness,” said Sanusi who was at the draw ceremony in Egypt.
“We learnt some lessons from the last AFCON in Egypt where a country like Madagascar caused some stirs by topping the group that included Nigeria. We will play all our group opponents with the respect they deserve. The ultimate is to top the group and progress to the next round of the qualifiers.”
However, concerning the issue on ground in association with Gernot Rohr’s contract renewal/extension, Dr Sanusi urged the media to please derail from spreading false rumors concerning the matter, and assuring that the contract issue would be resolved amicably, given that contract issue is often a matter between the employer and employee only. Thus he said,
“Harping on Gernot Rohr’s contract issue is diversionary. I think we should concentrate on our AFCON qualifications matches against Sierra Leone in March and Benin republic in July,” he stated.
“We want to qualify for every competition we participate in, that is why we don’t want distractions,” the Kebbi State born administrator concluded.
So, if hopefully the NFF complies and takes matter seriously, there is every hope for at least most of the controversies to be eluded, and Nigeria to have the chance of making it top of the group, given that only the winner will get to proceed to the next phase. And of course, non of that will be possible if the NFF can’t as they have promised, amicably resolve whatever contract issue they have with the Super Eagle’s head coach. In times like this, there is no room for additional conflict as all the players and supporters want is for the Super Eagles of Nigeria to qualify as they have always done in precious years. So what’s your thoughts on this? Are the NFF going to really take things serious? Whatever the case is, we’ll get to find that out.
