Former Super Falcons and Golden Eaglets coach, Godwin Izilien has described the performance of the Home-Based Super Eagles against Mexico as a waste of taxpayer’s money.
The team which had a large number of players from the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL), lost 4-0 to Mexico in Sunday’s international friendly game in the US.
In a chat with Guardian.ng, Izilien faulted the decision of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to have hurriedly assembled the NPFL players to camp to face a tough opponent like Mexico.
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“The players were hurriedly assembled within one week to face Mexico and we ended up ridiculing ourselves before the international community. I have always advised the NFF severally on the need to
look inward by sending some of the coaches to the local government to scout for players. It worked for us in the old Bendel.
“You don’t just wake up and assemble local players to face a great football-playing nation like Mexico. It was a waste of money. I am sure we have learnt some bitter lessons from this mistake,” Izilien stated.
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COMMENTS
Lolz, My mann this is NIGERIA… we don’t learn any lessons here!! Rinse and repeat
The Mexicans are having a good, long laugh at Nigeria’s expense. They are well aware that it was our Team D they beat, but they don’t care. Next time, we too should carefully chose our battles. This 4 nil defeat is now history.
Funny enough, when Siasia’s eagles beat Argentina 4-1, the South American tabloids kept reminding everybody that it was Argentina’s B team. When we beat them 4-2, they said it was because they were without Messi. Now that Nigeria’s D or perhaps even E team has been thrashed by Mexico, none of the tabloids is saying anything in Nigeria’s defence. There you have it, folks. These guys do not like us. They still remember what we did to them at Atlanta 1996 Olympics, and the U-17 world cup, especially the 6-1 smashing. Let us not play into their hands by making foolish decisions to play matches we are not ready for.
NFF kuku no care. Estacode don enter pocket.
Mexico vs Nigeria Team A. in Dubai in October sponsored by Exposportchallenge.ae
@Olu, not possible in October. Team A will be playing CAR home & away in the World Cup qualifiers.
Is not a wast of money, never you say so because we lean every day we lean from the mistake we made.
Abeg which tax payers, abi no be Nigeria need the money most. They were desperate for funds thats why they went ahead
It was wrong to have hurriedly gathered local players in a week to play that match, and it was wrong not to have invited some players who are plying their trade in other African countries to beef up the team but it was not a waste of money afterall Ghana beat super eagles 4-1 a few years back in London and the sky didn’t fall, so let us take solace in the fact that the boys would have learnt some lessons from the match. In 1999 we hosted the U20 World Cup and a lowly Malian team defeated the flying Eagles 3-1 to knock them out of the tournament, that team was labeled wobbling and fumbling team because the team was a disaster but Bonfere Jo picked Aghahowa Julius from one of the worst U20 team we have ever had and in a matter of few weeks Aghahowa exploded in the Super Eagles. Yobo was also a member of that team who later made the super eagles , captained it and crowned it all with an Afcon title.
Let put ourself in their shoes if it where you will it not be a great experience considering the fact that many haven’t left the shores of the nation. If they pick ur broda won’t u be happy. It’s a means of showcasing them to the outside world. And it will increase their profile and also smile to the bank.