Former Nigerian international Sylvanus Okpala has told Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle that he must do everything possible to qualify the senior national team for the 2026 World Cup.
Okpala made this known in a chat with Brila FM, where he said that the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has the right to appoint any coach they desire for the Super Eagles.
He also pointed out that the NFF must take full responsibility if things fail to go as planned.
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“The point is that if we don’t qualify for the World Cup, we have failed,” he told Brila FM. “NFF has every right if that’s the coach they want, but he has to qualify us for the World Cup. If he doesn’t do that, he has failed.”
“Nigeria cannot afford not to go to the World Cup for the second time. It will be very disastrous for Nigerian football. It’s becoming difficult, but it is not impossible; there is still room with six games left.
“So later, they shouldn’t come with the excuse that things had already gone wrong before his appointment because they would have waited until after the qualifiers to appoint him,” he concluded.
5 Comments
This Okpala no get sense at all. Qualification for the world cup no be coach responsibility alone. It’s joint effort. Coach, players, NFF and even fans all have their own contribution. Okpala was talking as if even without the player coming to camp that the coach must make Nigeria qualify for world cup. Going to next world cup is not a do or die affair. Nigeria just need someone that will take our football to next level and if we qualify for the next world cup glory be to God.
You guys should not put the coach under unnecessary pressure. He is human being not an angel.
He is really an enemy of progress, a failure himself
Thanks for your comment. You write well too
You are very correct Mr Godsate
His utterances portrays envious attitudes and discrimination against Eric Chelle.
I will just advise Eric to face his business in Nigeria to the detriment and shame of back bitters and jealous people.
I wish you ultimate successes in your endeavors here.