Sports
Ex- International Backs NFF Over Peseiro’s Appointment
Following the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) validation of Jose Peseiro as Super Eagles’ manager at the weekend, former international, Friday Elahor, has described the decision as a by-product of failure of the consortium of local coaches to qualify Nigeria for the Qatar 2022 World Cup.
Elahor had before the World Cup play off against Ghana’s Black Stars advised the Coach Augustine Eguavoen-led Eagles’ coaching crew to ensure Nigeria qualified for Qatar 2022, adding that making the cut would compel the nation to stick to local coaches.
Speaking to Tidesports source on Monday, Elahor said he was not surprised that a foreigner was again named Super Eagles coach by the NFF because the local coaches failed to convince the Federation that they could do the job.
“I think the NFF didn’t have other alternative than to bring in a foreign coach after what happened… NFF President, Amaju Pinnick, simply refused to listen to the voice of the people who still want another local coach to take over.
“I read from the newspaper this morning that the NFF has reduced to one year the initial two and a half years deal they gave to the new coach. Whether it is true or not, I don’t know, but let’s see what he is going to do with the team. But I am still disappointed that we didn’t qualify for the World Cup,” he said.
The former Eagles winger then added, “I think Emmanuel Amunike should have been considered for the job. But I think he was too much in a haste to accept to be part of the coaching crew hurriedly assembled to qualify the Eagles for the World Cup. He should have relaxed a bit by not being part of the coaching crew. Maybe by now he would have been considered for the job.
“Some people actually clamoured for him to be given the job following his success in Tanzania when he qualified them for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in 2019. But because he was part of the crew that blew our chances of World Cup qualification, that discredited him,” he stated.
The championship will run from today to October 12 at the International Conference Centre, Umuahia. On the ground for the championship are athletes from Brazil, Peru, Egypt, Cameroon, Tunisia, Nigeria, Mauritius and Rwanda. They arrived on Sunday.
Some of the other countries were expected in the Abia State capital yesterday. Speaking on the championship, yesterday, Abia State Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Nwobilor Ananaba, said the chief host, Governor Alex Otti, has mobilised facilities and the personnel to ensure a successful event.
Speaking through the Special Assistant to the Governor on Sports, Raymond Chima Ukwa, said: “We have the best mats, playing mats, especially the wheelchair playing mats, which is the first of its kind in West Africa.
“If you go around, you’ll see the hall and the preparation that has been made to ensure that people have an equitable world-class playing field.” Thrilled by Governor Otti’s support for the competition, Badminton Federation of Nigeria (BFN) President, Francis Orbih, said that, besides making all the necessary arrangements that will ensure a successful hosting of the events, “we will have a Para-Badminton workshop for coaches and players.
“Nigeria is doing well, Abia is doing well, and we want to do better to improve on where we are, which is why all these have been put together by Governor Otti.”
Nigeria’s Flying Eagles began their campaign at the 24th FIFA U20 World Cup with a narrow 1–0 loss to Norway on Monday, despite creating several opportunities to level the game.
Norway took the lead in the 9th minute after being awarded a controversial penalty. The Flying Eagles pressed for an equaliser but were denied two penalty claims in the second half.
Kparobo Arierhi came close in the 47th minute when his shot drifted wide with the goalkeeper beaten, while Tahir Maigana struck the upright in the 63rd minute.
Nasiru Salihu’s rising effort in the 71st minute also went narrowly over the bar, drawing gasps from the crowd.
Seven minutes from time, Maigana again tested Norway with a long-range strike that went just wide as Nigeria continued to pile on the pressure.
Despite their dominance, the Flying Eagles could not find the breakthrough and now turn their attention to Thursday’s clash against Saudi Arabia in their second group match.
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