No Excuse For Failure, NFF Warns Keshi
The Nigeria Football Federation made it clear on Monday that it does not expect anything less than an outright win by the Super Eagles when they face the Walya Antelopes of Ethiopia in the final Group C match of the 29th Africa Cup of Nations. The Eagles coach Stephen Keshi will lead the team out for the match billed for 6pm on Tuesday.
A statement released by the federation in Rustenburg through Chairman of the Media and Publicity Committee, Mr. Emeka Inyama, outlined that the Government of Nigeria, through the NFF, had given the team everything they demanded to make them excel in South Africa. At that, the federation says that it has therefore become very imperative for the Eagles to do well as no excuse can be acceptable for failure.
The Monday statement can be regarded as a change to a tougher posture by the FA who had said that win or lose Keshi would continue in his position through the 2014 World Cup qualifiers.
Inyama said, “This team has received tremendous support from the Government of Nigeria, the football federation and the good and great people of our country. There is nothing the players or the coach and his crew have requested that we have failed to provide.
“After qualifying for this championship, the team has played a number of friendly matches and everything that is needed to spur players and officials on, have been provided for them. All that is left now is for the team to go all out and show high level of commitment and patriotic fervour in getting the job done.”
Two draws in as many matches have made Tuesday’s encounter a must-win for Nigeria.
In making their position known on Monday the FA officials listed a number of incentives given to the team to properly prepare them for the challenge in South Africa.
“Before the kick-off of the championship and despite limited financial muscle, the NFF ensured payment of salaries of all members of the technical crew till the end of this month.
“The NFF organized top-class friendly matches for the Eagles in the run-up to this tournament, with the team playing against Venezuela, Catalonia and Cape Verde in Portugal. They also played against Dutch club FC Rotterdam and Portuguese club Farense during a 20-day final training camp in Faro, Portugal.”
The NFF General Secretary, Musa Amadu, summed up the position, “The Eagles should just go into Tuesday’s game and show why they are super. Nigerians have lost patience. We have had enough of draws, and it is time to start winning.”
Source: Legit.ng
