1st March, 2012
The lacklustre performance of Yakubu Aiyegbeni, Osaze Odemwinge and other foreign-based professionals in the goalless draw Nigeria recorded against Rwanda in Kigali is causing ripples in the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, as the football body is set to axe these players from the national team.
Speaking to P.M.Sports in Abuja, Chris Green, the Chairman, Technical Committee of the NFF was very furious with the display of the likes of Yakubu Aiyegbeni and Osaze Odemwinge in the game, stressing that the NFF will be forced to take a drastic action by reducing the number of foreign-based professionals to six in subsequent games.
“We are not happy with the performance of most of these Europe-based players. The team was in disarray unlike what was witnessed in the games the home-based Eagles played against Angola and Liberia.” Green said.
He added that: “As it is now, the NFF is likely to reduce the number of these foreign-based professionals to six. We have to step up our game and put an end to this poor display of Nigeria’s national team.”
It was also reliably gathered that Vincent Enyeama, who was in goal for Nigeria was excellent and his performance was satisfactory. Joseph Yobo, the captain of the team did a yeoman’s job in the defence and debutant, Victor Moses was terrific when he was introduced into the game in the second half.
He replaced Ejike Uzoneyi, the Enugu Rangers mercurial left sided midfielder, who was a torn in the flesh of the Rwandan defenders. The Super Eagles will host the Amavubi of Rwanda in June in a game that Nigeria must win to progress to the next round of the African Nations Cup qualifiers.
—Francis achi/abuja