Connect with us

SPORT

AFCON: CBN Gov, Air Peace Boss, Govt Officials Distracted Super Eagles — Ex-Goalkeeper Peterside Idah

Published

1 year ago

on

The constant calls and promises of cash rewards from top government functionaries and prominent Nigerians distracted the Super Eagles which contributed to their ultimate defeat and exit from the Africa Cup of Nations, a former goalkeeper of the Super Eagles has said.

The ex-goalkeeper, Peterside Idah, said on Channels Television’s ‘Sunrise Daily’ programme on Monday that it was wrong to have allowed the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele; the Chief Executive Officer of Air Peace, Allen Onyema; and the President of the Nigerian Football Federation, Amaju Pinnick, to address players during halftime.

Barely six hours before the game, the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), made a video call to the team.

The CBN governor had also visited the eagles at halftime where he relayed a message from business tycoon, Femi Otedola, promising them $250,000 (N104m) if they won the cup. Onyema had also promised to give the team N10m for each goal scored.

Idah maintained that when people who are not part of the coaching team are allowed to address players during halftime, promising them cash rewards, the players get distracted.

The retired goalkeeper said the next coach of the Super Eagles must ensure that he is given full authority and does not permit such behaviour.

“We can’t have the President of the NFF addressing the players in the second half. That is not his responsibility. We can’t have the CBN governor addressing the players at halftime. That is not his responsibility. We can’t have the owner of Air Peace addressing the players at halftime. What time will the coach have?” Idah asked.

The former Nigeria international said the Super Eagles were overconfident and were already being addressed as champions when the tournament itself was still in the early stages.

He added that the government officials also did not help matters because of the incessant calls to the players.

Idah added, “We had won the gold in the bedroom. We had already started calling ourselves champions when we had not even qualified. I said it the other day that officials would begin to travel to the Super Eagles’ camp to make promises. ‘If you win the cup, this is the money you will get’. I mentioned this before.

“There is a psychology of football. When you go to play football, you start from zero. You don’t go as a winner because you underestimate your opponent. I said this before that in our dressing room, we had officials that were not football coaches going to address the players and I said this over and over again. The mindset of a player is very fickle.

“He has to think of the match 100 percent. He doesn’t have to think about money; he doesn’t have to think about family problems or women. He has to think about football.”

The ex-goalkeeper said there was a time when government officials interfered to the extent that they demanded that the Super Eagles team reflect federal character.

He said the white coach, however, ignored this order. Idah, therefore, stated that this is the sort of attitude the next coach must have.

“I remember the coach we had in Nigeria. I have worked with the FA in Nigeria. And when we were there, they brought a team list for him and they said you have to put two Hausa, two Yoruba, 4 Igbo and he looked at the list and they said to submit a team list.

“And he put two Yoruba, two Hausa, two Igbo and sent the list to the government. When he sent the list, during the match, he changed it. This was a white coach and the officials in the office compared it with their list and started complaining. Everything about Nigeria is wisdom and the next coach must lay down his rules,” Idah said.

The ex-goalkeeper said Austin Eguavoen was qualified to continue as a coach but advised him to be firm and make his demands upfront before signing any contract.

Post Views: 425
Related Topics:
Advertisement
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

BIG STORY

SPORT: Bukayo Saka Best Player Apart From Messi — Former Arsenal Captain, Tony Adams

Published

24 hours ago

on

March 29, 2023

By

Former Arsenal captain Tony Adams has claimed that England star Bukayo Saka is the best player in world football apart from World Cup winner Lionel Messi.

Saka, who has been Mikel Arteta’s talisman at the Emirates this season with 22 goal contributions in 28 league appearances, is bidding to clinch Arsenal’s first title in two decades – and is impressing on the international stage as well.

Continuing to impress under England boss Gareth Southgate, the 21-year-old winger netted a glorious goal from outside the box against Ukraine on Sunday, helping the Three Lions remain at the top of their Euro 2024 qualifying group with a 2-0 victory, Mail Online reports.

Arsenal legend Adams can only think of one player in world football better than Saka right now, and he’s long been considered one of the greatest players of all time.

During his column for The Sun, Adams said, “If there’s a better player in world football at the moment, someone who both scores and makes goals, the only one I can think of is Lionel Messi.

“Bukayo is absolutely on fire and the reason Arsenal are top of the table.

“Erling Haaland might be scoring hundreds of goals for Manchester City and Marcus Rashford is also having a phenomenal season for United.

“But Bukayo is, hands down, the Footballer of the Year because he was England’s best player at the World Cup and he’s been the best player for the team eight points clear at the top of the Premier League.”

Post Views: 56
Continue Reading

BIG STORY

Anthony Joshua Announces Retirement From Boxing If He Loses His Next Fight

Published

2 days ago

on

March 28, 2023

By

Anthony Joshua has confirmed that he will retire from boxing if he loses to Jermaine Franklin on Saturday.

Anthony Joshua was scheduled to fight Tyson Fury in November or December, however, the fight never happened due to sponsorship issues. The 33-year-old is now billed to face Franklin on Saturday at the O2 Arena in Greenwich, London.

The former champion will hope to upturn his bad form, after losing to Oleksandr Usyk in August of 2022 and get back in contention for the title.

“I will retire if I don’t win,” Joshua said when asked about a possible end to his career.

“I’m not here to battle people. If people want me to retire I will retire. I’m not willing to fight if people don’t want me to.”

“It’s not even about money. It’s about the competitor in you. That’s important.”

Speaking about his post-retirement plans, Joshua indicated he would enjoy himself despite the pressure he has had to bear in his career.

‘I know when I am retired, I am gonna be chilling,” he said.

‘You lot put so much pressure on me so when I am done, the chains are going to be gone. I am going to be laughing and loving life.’

He also tried to downplay Franklon’s chances claiming his opponent needed the fight more for his career resurgence

‘You’ve got Jermaine Franklin here, who is about 28 pounds lighter than he was against Dillian Whyte’s fight.

‘He’s now got a six-pack and this is what happens when you’re fighting Anthony Joshua. It’s a chance for him [Franklin] to catapult himself into the world of the heavyweight division.”

Post Views: 62
Continue Reading

BIG STORY

ENTERTAINMENT: Burna Boy To Perform At 2023 Champions League Final [VIDEO]

Published

2 weeks ago

on

March 16, 2023

By

Burna Boy, the Grammy-winning Afro-fusion singer, is set to perform at the 2023 UEFA Champions League (UCL) final.

This season’s final will be held at the Atatürk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul, Turkey on June 23.

In a blog post on Thursday, UEFA announced the self-proclaimed ‘African Giant’ as one of the headliners alongside another soon-to-be-announced “global sensation”.

“GRAMMY® Award-winning and multi-platinum selling singer, songwriter, and producer Burna Boy will co-headline the 2023 UEFA Champions League Final Kick Off Show by Pepsi®, at the Atatürk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul on Saturday 10 June,” a statement from UEFA reads.

“Known for his global chart-topping hits Last Last and It’s Plenty, the Nigerian star will bring his energy and signature soulful vibes of Afrobeats to millions of fans before the biggest club fixture in football gets underway.”

On his part, Burna Boy said: “As a huge football fan myself, I know it doesn’t get any bigger than the UEFA Champions League!

“That’s why I’m so excited to be performing on the Pepsi stage at this year’s final. Music and football are the ultimate combination, so you already know I’ll be bringing the vibes and making magic in Istanbul.

“The world isn’t ready for what we have in store!”

Post Views: 179
Continue Reading

Most Popular