Friday, November 21, 2014

2015 Nations Cup: Why Nigeria Failed To Qualify

Pat Utomi

Prof. Pat Utomi, founder Centre for Value in Leadership, has blamed Nigeria’s failure to qualify for the 2015 African Nations Cup tournament in Equatorial Guinea, on the nation’s bad leadership.

The former presidential aspirant lashed out at the Super Eagles saying it was a shame that Nigeria failed to qualify.

Utomi said: “Can you imagine Germany not going to the European championship? That would mean a loss of a sense of self. I know Nigerians would be dazed by the bad exit. It is an accumulation of the fact that we have not been doing the needful in our administration. Every aspect of our national life is reduced to corruption and quarrel.

“We cannot even get our FA right. What we hear is FIFA is about to ban us, or they are about to unban us.

“This is another symptom of the failure of leadership in the country. Everything has been reduced to money and power.”

Also speaking on the matter, a former Governor of Anambra State, Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife, said it was frustrating that Nigeria failed to qualify.

He suggested that the players, not just the coach, should be re-examined.

The Super Eagles on Wednesday were held to a 2-2 draw by South Africa’s Bafana Bafana at the Akwa Ibom International Stadium, Uyo, thereby finishing third in their group and missing out on qualification for the Nations Cup tournament.

The NFF had on Thursday released a statement where it accepted full responsibility for the failure of the Eagles to qualify for the 2015 AFCON.

Meanwhile, the Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi said that a coach must take full responsibility for the result of his team.


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