Adepoju while analysing Nigeria’s elimination by Guinea, queried the team’s selection and the quality of the players invited for the qualifier
By Kehinde Okeowo
Ex-Real Betis and Super Eagles midfielder, Mutiu Adepoju, has expressed sadness over the inability of Nigeria’s U-23 side to book spots at the U-23 Africa Cup of Nations and 2024 Summer Olympic Games.
Adepoju made his feelings known during a recent interview with PUNCH, where he attributed the team’s elimination to a possible lack of quality in the team.
The team tutored by Salisu Yusuf failed to qualify for the two tournaments after losing 2-0 to Guinea in the second leg of their double header qualifying fixture in Rabat, Morocco on Tuesday, after they were held to a goalless draw in the first leg at the MKO Abiola Stadium in Abuja last week.
Since the African U-23 AFCON serves as the qualifying tournament for the 2024 Olympic men’s football tournament in Paris, France, it means Nigeria will not be participating in the tournament.
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Adepoju, who was a veteran of three World Cups, while analysing what led to the ouster of the team, queried the team’s selection and the quality of the players invited to camp for the tournament.
Adepoju said: “It’s very sad because we have not participated in the past two Olympics and we used to be very very strong in the Olympics, we won in Atlanta 1996 and in Beijing 2008 we did well also, and not qualifying for the 2024 Olympics is very sad.
He also expressed disappointment in the fact Nigeria failed to qualify for the last two Olympics.
“I do not want to believe it’s wrong selection of players, because I believe the coaches know what they are doing and know the players, but probably the players the coach picked were not up to the task.”
