DON’T CRUCIFY THE SUPER EAGLES
Compromised and induced media personalities and organisations should be cautious in their attacks on the Super Eagles over issues of unpaid bonuses. The Super Eagles players deserve their entitlements within agreed timelines, especially as major championships like AFCON progress. Timelines for bonuses are not open-ended in delivery.
The leadership of the National Sports Commission (NSC) and the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) had two full years to work on the logistics of AFCON. To now offer their usual useless excuses for continued mismanagement and gross incompetence is unacceptable.
The pertinent questions to ask at this moment are: How was the official delegation of the NFF to Morocco funded? Are the NFF and NSC officials being owed daily allowances and estacodes for the Morocco trip? Did they personally fund their trips as patriotic Nigerians?
It is the norm that official delegations are paid in hard currency, either before departure or immediately upon arrival, at any continental or global championship—irrespective of how the national team eventually fares in the competition. Why then should the players be crucified for demanding their legitimate entitlements?
The Super Eagles, in the ongoing AFCON, have been outstanding so far, particularly in the last two games against Uganda and Mozambique. The team is gradually regaining its confidence and is close to playing like the Super Eagles the world once knew.
The main issue with Nigerian football has never been the availability of talent. The drawback has always been the lack of quality administration, and this must be the focus after the ongoing Nations Cup, which Nigeria is strongly favoured to win.
It is the duty of the NFF to maintain law, order, and discipline in the Super Eagles’ camp. No single player is bigger than the nation. If those currently in charge of our football cannot maintain law, order, and discipline through their actions and inactions, they should simply resign to stop further embarrassment of the country at every international event.
Media hirelings must stop distracting the Super Eagles with incessant pressure. The players are operating under very precarious conditions, imposed by what can only be described as the most grossly incompetent football administrators in the world.
Prince Harrison Jalla
