NFF President, Amaju Pinnick

Nigeria’s Super Eagles’
failure to qualify for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) scheduled to hold in Gabon, has continued to attract mixed reactions. It is the second time in a row that Nigeria’s flag will fail to fly at the biggest continental football fiesta.
Last Tuesday the Pharaohs of Egypt dashed the dream of Super Eagles to attend the 2017 African Cup of Nations, after they pipped the Eagles by a lone goal barely four days after holding them to 1-1 draw in Kaduna.
This is the second time Nigeria Flag will not be hoisted in AFCON tournament after failing to defend their title in 2015.
The Eagles have lifted the AFCON trophy three times, 1980, 1994 and 2013 .
In his reaction, ace sports writer, Alambo Datonye, said it is unfortunate that a big country like Nigeria failed to qualify for AFCON, saying that the nation is living in her past glory.
Datonye noted that Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) principally caused the failure of the national team, because they don’t have good administrative structure to pilot the affairs of the game.
“Honestly it is really unfortunate that Nigeria could not qualify twice consecutively. NFF should also share the blame because of poor administrative policy and structure.
Is not all about coaching and having abundant talents, but it takes more of good policies and structure”, Datonye said.
According to him, one of the major reasons for the country’s failure is high level of politics within the confines of the  game, also players arriving late to camp whenever there is international engagement.
“There are a lot of politics even in the game of football which is not good for the nation”, he stated.
Jim Udede-Opiki, a sportswriter and analyst described Eagles failure as terrible, saying that the situation would make the country lose her respect globally.
Udede-Opiki also blamed NFF over their administrative lapses, mostly the appointment of Sunday Oliseh and his premature resignation which set the preparations backward.
“I will really say that the situation is a sad one and terrible. Our two times consecutive failure to attend the AFCON will definitely make the country lose her respect internationally interms of football.
NFF should also share part of the blame over the appointment of Oliseh” Udede-Opiki said.
In his reaction, sportswriter and presenter, Emeka Denar, said it is highly disappointing for a team like Nigeria failed twice, and blamed NFF largely to employ three coaches within the period, saying that  contributed to the failure because there was inconsistency in the team.
According to him, NFF should invest in our local league, to enable the country have a formidable home based Super Eagles that can have the capacity to beat any team.
“NFF has failed Nigerians and their apology is not accepted by me because they don’t have a good structure that can develop our football.
Another problem is that our players report late to camp, that is also affecting the play, because the players hardly blend. I want NFF to invest on our local league”, Denar said.
Chairman Rivers United Supporters Club, Franklin Owhor, also expressed sadness over  non-qualification of Super Eagles, but blamed Samson Siasia for changing the winning team.
According to him, Siasia should have  combined both foreign and home based players.
“Siasia changing the winning team to me was the cause of our failure, I know that the home based players are more committed when it comes to national assignment”, Owhor said.

Tonye Orabere