Even as there are palpable emotions on performance of the Super Eagles of Nigeria as they landed in Cameroon to tango for the coveted African Cup of Nations , the Nigeria Pillar of Sports Chief Donatus Agu Ejidike J. P has rallied supports for the county’s flagbearer.
The Nigeria Pillar of Sports Ejidike in a statement sounded that now is not the time to begin to criticize the Super Eagles formation or managerial composition of the team rather football stakeholders and football ruling authority should rally support and encourage the players and the technical crew for them to excel and bring trophy to the country.
Ejidike noted that the crops of invited players have the wherewithal to crush their opponents considering the top flight football they all play in their various clubsides.
He encouraged the Coach Augustine Eguavoen- led technical crew to play more of attacking football rather than defensive game.
“It may not be too difficult for Nigeria Super Eagles to qualify from the group stage because the group tickets are a toss up between Nigeria and Egypt; the two that are among the most successful nations in African football history. Sudan and Guinea Bissau appear primed to compete for third position”. Ejidike observed.
Nigeria Pillar of Sports said: “Nigerian players have a playing mentality, ‘ never say die until the bones are rotten’ if only we play typical Nigerian football styles which are either wing play or space marking styles. Nigeria is known to improve by every game and the likes of Victor Osimhen Kelechi Iheancho Wilfred Ndidi and Chibueze should be cohesive as none come close to matching Mohammed Sallah’s prodigy.”
Ejidike warned Super Eagles against any North African team as the just concluded FIFA Arab Cup which ended last month in Qatar may have given North African qualifiers an added advantage at AFCON 2022.
“Time has come for Nigeria to prove her mettles in African football having reached the round of 16 thrice, won three times finished third place 15 times since 1976 even though picked usually as favourites” in the words of Ejidike.
He noted that Nigeria made first appearance in 1963 when they were knocked out at the group stage in which case the country could be said to have, rather, a difficult history qualifying. They were banned once withdrawn 4 times and didn’t qualify recently in 2012, 2015 and 2017.
“Nigeria is our country sports , particularly football is a strong apron string binding us strongly together, let us hail and cheer our own Super Eagles to victory as they trade tackles against Egypt on Tuesday” Nigeria Pillar of Sports, Ejidike advocated.