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The former Super Eagles defender, Eric Ejiofor, has Nigeria of a qualification place in the FIFA World Cup next year.
Speaking in the Brila FM ‘No Holds Bard with IFEANYI Udeze’ breakfast program, Ejiofor described the possibilities of the Nigeria World Cup as desperate.
“How do we want to qualify for the World Cup? Where is the opportunity? We don’t use it,” joked the former defender.
“When the opportunity is very thin, we want to start waiting and pray. From the first day we don’t take ourselves seriously.
“I don’t think players understand that they are willing to play in the World Cup. It is very sad because their attitude towards the game is not encouraging.
“Many of them have not gone to the World Cup in their career and this would have been the first time. I don’t know what they were thinking.
“Let us eliminate the appearance of the Nigeria Football Federation, we know they have their own problems, but you, the player, must think about their future and career. Most players get great contracts after the World Cup.”
Enough guilt to turn
Ejiofor also blamed the attitude of Super Eagles players and the Nigerian Football Federation for the bad shape of the team throughout the qualifiers.
“Imagine the attitude of coming to the team camp, some enter Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays to do only two workouts and want to play a game. It is not possible and you do not work like this.
“Football is teamwork, we are not playing as a team and I will not keep my hope. I have already eliminated my mind that we will go to the World Cup.
There is no hope for the 2026 World Cup
The 45 -year -old said that Super Eagles have not shown consistency to trust that they can ensure consecutive victories.
“Imagine the two games, how are we sure we can win them? Remember that we had some games before and we expect good results to keep us in dispute.
“In addition to what the coach tells you to do, you must establish yourself in the field and say that this is our house. You can imagine this our last game against Rwanda, it was our first victory at home.”
“If they surprise me, well, but the way people expect, it’s not me; I will not bother.
“Look at South Africa, the coach has been there for almost five years. He knows how to organize his team and the players understand what to do. This is the appearance of the NFF; the coaches are always changing. It is not easy for players to adapt and play as a team.
“You must have a structure to win. If you want, it brings 11 messis, they will not win because football is teamwork. We put ourselves in this situation, there is nothing we can do. Let’s play like that, whatever we can do, we will do it. It is very sad.
The final straw
Finally, he blamed last year’s loss against Benin Republic and the raffle against Zimbabwe as some of the factors that contributed to the current situation of the team.
“We should not have lost against Benin Republic. Remember that we scored first and lost the 2-1 game, that is not intended to happen at home. Zimbabwe, we played a draw against them at home.
“Imagine if we cannot overcome all these teams, we do not deserve the qualification. Throughout the group we have been struggling to score goals.”
Ejiofor played for Nigeria in the 2002 FIFA World Cup. He also had periods with the NPFL Enyimba club and the Cypriot side inosis Neon Pararalimni FC.
