junnyjake:
What are going to do with a friendly against Egypt for God's sake??

Which Egyptian friendly are you talking about please

I totally agree. He ought to make the 2014 squad but maybe some people were waiting for him to play ball. I haven't watched him recently but I don't mind giving him a shot with this team ... he might be the out and out striker we're looking for.


O pari

tbaba1234:


Adi has not been given a fair shot. He could be a decent addition to the initial 30.

KPOM!


O pari

junnyjake:
These Algerians are useless, they couldn't win any match throughout the qualifiers despite their star studded team, not even their home match against Zambia to at least provide us with 2 dead rubber games.

Theirs is to go about looking for loopholes in order to get some miserable 3 points/3 goals that would be of no benefits to them.

junnyjake:
FIFA SANCTION: 5 Other Times NFF’s Negligence Embarrassed Nigeria

By Kayode Ogundare :

News broke late Tuesday that the Federation of International Football federation (FIFA) had wielded the big stick to sanction Nigeria by voiding the Super Eagles’ hard-earned one point from the last 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying game against Algeria in Constantine last October.


FIFA’s grouse was that Nigeria fielded an ineligible Shehu Abdulahi who had copped two yellow cards in the games against Swaziland away in November 2015 and in Uyo against Zambia last October. By FIFA rules he was supposed to have missed the game against Algeria but through the negligence of some officials who should have spotted and alerted the coaching crew, he went on to play the full 90 minutes in the ultimately meaningless tie against Algeria, a 1-1 draw that has now been awarded as a 3-0 win to the North Africans.


Completesportsnigeria.com trails and presents five other times that the negligence of the NFF had caused Nigeria embarrassment and, in some cases, lengthy bans from the game of football.


1. South African Matchballs debacle 2017
The opening day AFCON 2019 qualification game against South Africa in Uyo last June resulted in a 2-0 defeat for the Super Eagles against all expectations. However, the news out of the home loss was the information that filtered out after the game that the matchday balls used for the game actually belonged to the South Africans as the NFF could not provide the balls to be used for the game.
South Africa branded their balls with a red marker before allowing them to be used for the match.

Apparently, the players had been training with the wrong set of balls which were different from the FIFA-approved ones for the game as the NFF were said to be too broke to take delivery of the balls sent by FIFA.
Whether this was enough excuse to have lost the game to South Africa or not, the fact remained that somebody neglected to do his job and it cost Nigeria not just three points but also caused us international embarrassment.


2. Golden Eaglets passport scandal 1997
After failing to go beyond the quarter-final stages at the 1995 FIFA U-17 World Cup in 1995, the NFF mandated coach Fanny Amu to put together a crack squad for the 1997 edition which would be capable of redeeming Nigeria’s image in age-grade competition and win again the cadet cup which we had won twice previously in 1985 and 1993.


However, in the team’s first competitive African Youth Championship qualifier against Benin Republic at the Liberty Stadium (now Obafemi Awolowo Stadium) Ibadan in 1996, it was discovered that the NFF had forgotten the players’ passport in Lagos!
Muyiwa Lawal, in 3SC colours here, was one of the Golden Eaglets of 1997 set which won the Meridien Cup in Portugal
The Beninoise, sensing a backyard victory over their more illustrious neighbours, refused to start the game despite assurances that somebody would be dispatched to Lagos to bring the passports before the end of the game. They protested to CAF which upheld their protest and kicked out the Golden Eaglets from the qualifiers without kicking a ball.

A glimpse of how good that generation of young players which included Ejike Izuagha, Muyiwa Lawal, Hashimu Garba etal was seen at the 1997 UEFA-CAF Meridian Cup where they beat Spain 3-2 in the final of the friendly invitational tournament in Portugal.
Again, we would never know if that squad would have won the World U-17 title in Egypt which Brazil won after a 2-1 victory over Ghana.


3. Forgotten shorts 1991
On July 27th, 1991, Nigeria’s Super Eagles were billed to play the Stallions of Burkina Faso in the last game of the qualification race to the 1992 AFCON. The national stadium Surulere was already packed to the rafters with an enthusiastic of fans who’d come to witness how the Burkinabes would be slaughtered.

The Super Eagles at Senegal ’92
Both set of players were in their respective dressing rooms and Nigeria manager was rounding off a quick last-minute strategy session when somebody raised the alarm that the Super Eagles kits were missing. Somebody forgot to bring them from the team’s camp in Otta, some 25-minutes drive away from Lagos. It was just five minutes to kick-off and nothing was going to stop the match referee, Guinea’s Karim Camara from going ahead with the game. Except, probably, a walk-over for the home team.

According to former Super Eagles defender Rueben Agboola who was on the starting line-up, the referee was about to call the game off when someone suggested that they cut off the tracksuit bottoms and use as shorts. A scissors was quickly found and the players emerged from the dug-out with knee-length shorts.

It was an amusing sight seeing the Super Eagles players chasing down balls in ridiculous-looking shorts but, fortunately, that didn’t stop the players from winning handsomely with a 7-1 annihilation of their opponents.


4. Banned from age-grade competitions 1989
In 1989, FIFA placed a two year ban on Nigeria from participating in FIFA age-grade tournaments and also withdrew the country’s right to host the 1991 World Youth Championship.
Captain Samson Siasia leading the Super Eagles out for a match was one of the players involved in the 1989 ban


The infraction for which Nigeria was banned was the alleged falsification of the ages of three players, Andrew Uwe, Samson Siasia and Dahiru Sadi.
The trio had featured for Nigeria in the U-20 World Cups of Mexico ’83 and Moscow ’85 and had altered their ages to participate in the Seoul ’88 Olympics.

FIFA had condemned this negligence on the part of the then NFA but the two-year ban of 1989 ensured a 10-year absence for the Flying Eagles at the FIFA U-20 World Cup as they couldn’t qualify until Nigeria hosted the world in 1999.


5. Obafemi Martins’ age mix-up 2005
In 2005, in the heat of the qualification race to the 2006 World Cup in Germany, the NFA put itself, and Nigeria, up for public ridicule by feeding false information to the world which threatened the career of striker Obafemi Martins, then playing for Italian giants Inter Milan. The NFA put Obafemi Martins at the centre of an age dispute by stating falsely, on the website, that the player was born on May 1, 1978 instead of the authentic date of October 28, 1984.


This negligence embarrassed Martins who was branded an age cheat and affirmed the stereotype about Nigeria being a country of criminals. The player was so infuriated that he vowed never to play for the country again. While he rescinded his decision, Nigeria ultimately failed to make it to the World Cup of that year.

On the same website, since yanked off, the NFA claimed that former midfielder Seyi Olofinjana made his national team debut on June 12, 1980, two years before he was born on November 15, 1982!

Nigerians will heave a sigh of relief that this latest sanction did not cost the nation more than international embarrassment but hope that the NFF president Amaju Pinick will live up to his promise to fish out and punish the negligent staff responsible for this international ridicule.

Onlinenigeria

That issue of forgetting of passport for that U17 qualifiers was so pathetic. As even the players were seen pleading with the Beninoise officials who were playing deaf and dumb.

They knew the rules and capitalised on it instantly. If reverse was the case I know Nigeria would have ignorantly gone ahead with the game only for FIFA to write to us that Benin has been disqualified without us even knowing they violated any rule in the first place

That Shehu's case is what u get when you put people who are not thorough in sensitive positions.

There are certain things on my mind
1) NFF! Never make that mistake again biko. How could you guys be so careless
2) Nigerians na so we hate Victor Moses? I vex ooo. Haba? He came a distant 4th in the BBC African footballer of the year. This can shatter his morale in representing Nigeria.
3) Joel Obi should be rushed into Eagles. It seems Barcelona are putting eyes on him

"It's full ranking multiplier is 3" -- you haven't proved this yet.

realpoacher:


You guys won the last argument concerning FIFA rankings, but your first paragraph is a big lie.

CHAN is fully accepted by FIFA as Confederation's Regional tournament and its full ranking multiplier is 3.

somehow:
and believe me you, no one got any reprimand for all these.

Nobi Nigeria where we rather pray away problems we can solve in person and also blame the devil for things we caused with our korokoro eyes?

It's terribly annoying. How do we as a country move forward if we close our eyes to these serious cases negligence.


In saner climes, the person in charge would quietly resign his position, not even wait for a sack.

Dedebanky85:
I'm hearing that Nigeria is playing Poland in Marchkudos to NFF. But please, NFF should ensure we have a 2nd game in that March window. Most teams are playing 2 games. Even non-worldcup bound teams are playing 2 friendlies. How much more a WC bound team. We could use that avenue to play against either, Denmark, Norway or Finland. I hear Lagerback is now coach of Norway and you know he moulded the core basics of the Icelandic team. I believe we can quickly get Norway to play in March. Not every time big team.

Two games have been planned for now.

One confirmed (Poland)

The second game is in the pipeline.

nelszx:


Which Egyptian friendly are you talking about please

There are news from reliable sources that the NFF are planning a friendly match against Egypt.

Icon4s:


That issue of forgetting of passport for that U17 qualifiers was so pathetic. As even the players were seen pleading with the Beninoise officials who were playing deaf and dumb.

They knew the rules and capitalised on it instantly. If reverse was the case I know Nigeria would have ignorantly gone ahead with the game only for FIFA to write to us that Benin has been disqualified without us even knowing they violated any rule in the first place

That Shehu's case is what u get when you put people who are not thorough in sensitive positions.

That's what you get when people who are in position mess up and all they expect to get in a form of a reprimand is just a slap on the wrist.

The entire BBC public voting thing was a scam. They didn't rely on the online voting in making their selection, trust me on that one. If they did, VicMo would've won it handily.


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solonnachi:
There are certain things on my mind
1) NFF! Never make that mistake again biko. How could you guys be so careless
2) Nigerians na so we hate Victor Moses? I vex ooo. Haba? He came a distant 4th in the BBC African footballer of the year. This can shatter his morale in representing Nigeria.
3) Joel Obi should be rushed into Eagles. It seems Barcelona are putting eyes on him

junnyjake:


That's what you get when people who are in position mess up and all they expect to get in a form of a reprimand is just a slap on the wrist.

How can some one or a group of people forget something as important and as bulky as a group of passports for about 20 people?

They left Lagos to Ibadan just to go watch match and forgot something as vital as passports.

After winning the maiden Meridian cup the careers of that talented generation hit the rocks, which was a huge lose to Nigeria, because of the carelessness of a bunch of people.

Icon79:
The entire BBC public voting thing was a scam. They didn't rely on the online voting in making their selection, trust me on that one. If they did, VicMo would've won it handily.


O pari

What is your proof?

junnyjake:


There are news from reliable sources that the NFF are planning a friendly match against Egypt.

And in Abuja I just learnt

Pinnick has apologized, and he assumed responsibility as the president of the Federation.
It's time to look ahead.

Loogan:
If we are to look at the positives from this embarrassment it's that the federation will be under severe pressure and criticism especially after abandoning the team in rio. With this stupid mistake our federation can buckle up and become more organized.
Just like the South Africa match which was a wake up call for our team! this should serve as a kick in the ass of NNF officials to get thier shit together, you can't aim for success and make such mistake. Assuming those points cost us the World Cup ticket I can bet every penny a lot of these Anglo/Nigerian players would lose the love and interest in the country, I can only imagine the emotional trauma it would have caused the players were we not to qualify. we also would not get any of the top prospects, what's the use when they they hustle and fight for success then some official causes the team failure just because of laziness and incompetencey.
Our president has apologized it's accepted since it didn't cost us, but this kind of situation cannot repeat themselves.

Icon4s:


Two games have been planned for now.

One confirmed (Poland)

The second game is in the pipeline.

England vs Nigeria friendly confirmed officially by one side Nigeria.

Bros, if you check with you, they can tell you that the online polling is just one part of the selection process. It's just like the American Idol, their panel voting supersedes whatever was voted in the (phone) online voting.


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Icon4s:


What is your proof?

komekn:


England vs Nigeria friendly confirmed officially by one side Nigeria.

Good. Venue and date?

Icon79:
Bros, if you check with you, they can tell you that the online polling is just one part of the selection process. It's just like the American Idol, their panel voting supersedes whatever was voted in the (phone) online voting.


O pari

I know about those technicalities just like what is used in Big Brother Africa. But saying the whole system is a scan is entirely pointless.

You simply believe Victor Moses deserved it because you are fellow Nigerian. That is why votes are taken from all around Africa.

junnyjake:


There are news from reliable sources that the NFF are planning a friendly match against Egypt.

It could be a friendly for the CHAN tournament you know (speculative) as that may be the only reasonable reason in playing Egypt in a friendly. The statement reads it would span from January through to June. So it could be CHAN friendly as there are no FIFA free window in January for players release.

komekn:


England vs Nigeria friendly confirmed officially by one side Nigeria.

Not yet chief as the Skysports report quoted a saying from "Mohammed Sanusi" as do our local news media and the report also stated it was awaiting confirmation from the English FA. All in CLEAR TERMS
The article you posted was Skysports news and not one side Nigeria. You can furnish us link as to the confirmation of the match. Though still speculative but it could happen in June pending confirmation from both Federations.

junnyjake:



It's terribly annoying. How do we as a country move forward if we close our eyes to these serious cases negligence.


In saner climes, the person in charge would quietly resign his position, not even wait for a sack.

Let's be honest with ourselves is any of this kind of regular negligence and unprofessionalism shocking To be honest it is not to me.

If we cast our mind back how there was a delay in the accreditation of Aina in his switch over. What was a simple a matter resulted due to negligence in undue delay and it delayed his debut for Nigeria.

Icon4s:


Good. Venue and date?

To be confirmed but June is the date being tentatively presented.

Venue not confirmed.

My preference Old Trafford.

Let's just say that I would like for them to give us the vote count. I mean, there's no way VicMo wouldn't have won judging by the massive campaign Nigerians from all around the world embarked for him on Twitter, Facebook, and all over the internet. gosh, at a stage, we even crashed their website. I know guys who voted over 100 times for VicMo


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Icon4s:


I know about those technicalities just like what is used in Big Brother Africa. But saying the whole system is a scan is entirely pointless.

You simply believe Victor Moses deserved it because you are fellow Nigerian. That is why votes are taken from all around Africa.

Joebie:
When we didn’t qualify God didn’t love us.God don’t love italy, USA etc

Kwantinue

I didn't mean that. What I meant was that "what if after deducting our points we did not qualify?

What is it with this Nigeria's obsession with England? If we are playing Croatia, Iceland, and Argentina then we should be thinking about playing friendly games against countries like: Serbia, Poland, Sweden, Denmark, Uruguay, and Brazil.


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komekn:


England vs Nigeria friendly confirmed officially by one side Nigeria.

komekn:

To be confirmed but June is the date being tentatively presented.
Venue not confirmed.
My preference Old Trafford.

OK June. Meaning there is still one yet to be fixed for March.

Zambia would take our place

terzurum5:

I didn't mean that. What I meant was that "what if after deducting our points we did not qualify?

Nigeria is still a colony

Icon79:
What is it with this Nigeria's obsession with England? If we are playing Croatia, Iceland, and Argentina then we should be thinking about playing friendly games against countries like: Serbia, Poland, Sweden, Denmark, Uruguay, and Brazil.


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Icon79:
What is it with this Nigeria's obsession with England? If we are playing Croatia, Iceland, and Argentina then we should be thinking about playing friendly games against countries like: Serbia, Poland, Sweden, Denmark, Uruguay, and Brazil.


O pari

Nothing wrong with the England friendly bro.

At least we have secured Poland for Croatia.
And we have already played Argentina for Argentina (no preparation pass that one).

I understand the England friendly is in June so we still have one slot for friendly in March yet to be secured.

I bet you many Nigerians that voted, voted multiple times. And they would have found out although not all the time. What is my proof?
Na our way.

Icon4s:


What is your proof?

Icon79:
Let's just say that I would like for them to give us the vote count. I mean, there's no way VicMo wouldn't have won judging by the massive campaign Nigerians from all around the world embarked for him on Twitter, Facebook, and all over the internet. gosh, at a stage, we even crashed their website. I know guys who voted over 100 times for VicMo


O pari

Because you believe it is only Nigerians that surf the internet space.