Ex-internationals have duty to salvage Nigerian football - Peterside
Former Super Eagles goalkeeper Idah Peterside says Nigeria’s ex-internationals have a duty to salvage the country’s football from its current mess. For the first time, Nigerian national teams will not be involved in any of the next continental tournaments as both the U17, U20 and the Super Eagles failed to qualify for the events with maladministration heavily blamed for the footballing catastrophe.
The ex-Maroka Swallows shot stopper in a series of twitter posts called on former internationals, the sports ministry and other eminent Nigerians to heed the call and start taking actions or else the game will continue to plummet in the country and Eagles could be absent at the next FIFA World Cup in Russia.
“We need to listen to the complains of our football supporters around the world. We could still qualify for this World Cup, but not alone. It’s now a national emergency the sports ministry and everyone including ex-internationals who re unhappy with the Nigeria Football Federation need to get involved.” Peterside wrote.
Peterside clarion call comes days after former NFF disciplinary committee vice-chairman Iyke Igbokwe called for the resignation of NFF President Amaju Pinnick, saying the Glass House’s helmsman is the worst disaster to have inflicted Nigerian football in recent times.
Eagles campaign for the Russia Mundial is next on the cards but also comes with a lot of issues as former FIFA executive member Amos Adamu also said he’s skeptical about the coaching credentials of the newly appointed German tactician, Gernot Rohr to lead the Eagles.
Nigeria will be vying for a single qualification spot with highest ranked African team Algeria, Cameroun and Zambia.