Sunday Agunbiade (Mr. VAR) couldn’t contain his frustration. “Our girls win more on TikTok and Instagram,” he exclaimed, reacting to the Super Falcons’ latest performance at the ongoing Olympics.
Agunbiade’s sentiment mirrors the discontent brewing among Nigerian football fans, who are exasperated by what they perceive as misplaced priorities.
“Super Falcons take a front seat when it comes to carrying cameras to the training,” he continued, “only to waste glaring chances in real match situations.
Football players are usually seen as serious-minded souls, and the moment you are being glamorously entertaining your followers in other areas, you might not be able to satisfy them in both ways. A voracious dog can’t secure two different banks. Impossible!”
Agunbiade’s critique isn’t entirely unfounded. The Super Falcons’ single win in the last World Cup has catapulted several players to social media stardom.
While their online presence has garnered admiration and expanded their fan base, it has also raised questions about their focus and dedication to the game. “Some of them are superstars,” Agunbiade acknowledged, “but they went overboard compared to other nationals.”
Reflecting on the hypothetical scenario of the Falcons advancing further in the World Cup, Agunbiade mused, “I wonder if they had made it to the Quarter or Semi-Finals of the Mundial, they would have probably forced the Olympic Committee to introduce dancing competitions for female players in Paris.”
The veteran football analyst didn’t spare the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) and their coaching decisions either.
“The present NFF and their ‘padi padi’ coaches will continue to give us heart attacks unless we allow competent handlers to lead our national teams,” he stated.
Agunbiade lamented the appointment of Ladan Bosso, who was jobless last season, to lead the under-17 team to a European tour. “Meanwhile, young coaches like Paul Offor, Fidelis Ilechukwu, and Ogunbodede, who produced under-17 boys, are left behind just because they don’t have voting power like their President. No be juju be dat?”
In Agunbiade’s view, the root of these issues lies with the state FA Chairmen. “Na our state FA Chairmen brought us to this shameful level voting for the kind of leader we have in Nigerian football,” he concluded, his voice tinged with resignation.
As the Super Falcons’ Olympic journey unfolds, the debate over their priorities continues, reflecting a broader discourse on the intersection of sport, fame, and responsibility.
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