Patriotic fervour, defined by hard –fighting spirit, positive attitude and pride in wearing the green-white-green, was the underlying message on Wednesday night as chieftains of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) held a frank-talk session with players and officials of the Super Eagles, following the shock 0-1 loss to Uganda in Uyo.
NFF President, Amaju Pinnick and Executive Committee members held nothing back as they gave the team a piece of their minds an hour before midnight at Uyo’s Hotel Le Meridien.
It was the first time in decent memory that a sitting NFF boss and his deputies would tell players of their senior team straight to their faces to buckle up or be bundled out.
He said: “When next you receive an invitation letter to come represent Nigeria, you have a critical decision to make: accept it only if you believe you are in the frame of mind to give your everything or decline if you do not feel that way.
“The camp of the National Team would no longer welcome average players or good players with poor attitude.
“Today, we are supposed to be celebrating with Vincent Enyeama on his 100th cap, but your poor performance has ruined the party and Nigerians are very angry.
Disclosing that the new NF has great plans for the welfare of players of the National Teams and emphasizing that only good results will encourage Corporate Nigeria to pump in the needed funds, Pinnick challenged the players to go to Nelspruit and beat South Africa’s Bafana Bafana on Sunday to somewhat redeem their image.
First vice president, Seyi Akinwunmi, Technical Committee chairman Felix Anyansi-Agwu and LMC boss Shehu Dikko spoke in similar vein.
Akinwunmi stated that the problem is certainly not ability, but attitude, and advocated positive attitude when representing Nigeria, while Anyansi-Agwu talked of the need to “build a new Super Eagles of our collective dream.” Dikko urged that players be ready to transfer club form to the international front.
Responding, stand-in Coach Daniel Amokachi admitted giving the players a similar message in the dressing room and said invited players must now be ready to give 120 per cent on the pitch.