Ezeugo raises alarm over football team’s poor preparation
Former Super Eagles player, Emeka Ezeugo, is worried by the apparent neglect of the national U-23 team a few days to their first game at the Rio 2016 Olympics. The Olympics begins on Friday in Brazil.
The Nigerian football team will play their opening match on Friday against Japan.
Ezeugo, who is not happy over the consistent lamentations by the team’s technical crew and players over their allowances, said the situation was capable of destabilising the players in the championship.
He said that winning the Olympic gold is possible for the team only if the boys were in the right frame of mind to battle the opposition, adding that everything they need to succeed should have been provided for them by now.
The Seoul 1988 Olympics star wondered why some Nigerians have already ruled out the team from reaching the podium, stressing that the country’s youth teams are always tough contenders whenever in every age group tournament.
He also believes that most of the players selected for the games are hungry to make names for themselves and therefore, will give all they have to make Nigerians proud.
“Looking at the team’s group, Nigeria has every chance to qualify for the second round. My only fear is that the players’ concentration might be affected by the poor treatment they are getting in their camp.
“So, the NFF and other bodies attached to the team should rally round to make them comfortable. The boys can only deliver if they are happy. The U-20 boys failed to qualify for AFCON because of bonuses and allowances that affected the focus of the team…this should not be allowed in Rio,” he said.
Nigeria is in Group B alongside Sweden, Colombia and Japan.
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