Former Super Eagles striker, Victor Agali has expressed his disappointment on the way he was treated at the 2004 Africa Cup of Nations in Tunisia.
Agali alongside Celestine Babayaro and Yakubu Aiyegbeni was thrown out of the Super Eagles hotel for breaking the team protocols.
It was alleged that they invited women into their hotel rooms after the team lost their opening match against Morocco 1-0.
Speaking in an interview with Brilafm, the former Schalke 04 stated that he was falsely accused by the officials of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).
”NFF Officials lied about what happened in Tunisia, I was kicked out of the Super Eagles on false allegations,” said the former Forward.
“I remember years later Taiwo Ogunjobi, of blessed memory, called me to apologize for what happened.
“Football officials had the press at their disposal and would often use them to put out all sorts of narratives. They didn’t care how if affected the players, as long as it’s in line with their agenda.”
By Augustine Akhilomen
NFF Falsely Accused Me Of Bringing Women To Super Eagles Hotel In 2004 AFCON – Agali
NFF Falsely Accused Me Of Bringing Women To Super Eagles Hotel In 2004 AFCON - Agali
Austin Akhilomen
Augustine Akhilomen is a passionate sports content writer. A fan of the Super Eagles and Chelsea. My aim is to promote the game of sports globally.
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5 Comments
…Nigeria and administration mess. they needed to find a reason for losing the first game 1-0. To make aU-turn when we had to then face almighty Cameroon and ask for the trio of Agali, Aiyegbeni and Celestine to come back was a shameful about-face on the part of the officials. The fear of getting humiliated by Cameroon brought them to their lying senses I guess as posited here by Agali… this player was at the top of his game at Schalke 04 then, sadly it put paid to Celestin and Agali’s international career and that would ultimately affect Babayaro more as his game began to taper-out… we had a mandate to win a cup… whatever the erring players may have done, the situation could have been better handled. Same officials who kicked Finidi, Oliseh out 2002 world cup after qualifying Nigeria for standing up to them about approed match bonuses which were not being paid yet money released… that led to an uninspiring showing at Japan/Korea 2002. It is only in Nigeria money will be released for a worker and oga will sit on it and worker must not talk… It is really hard to understand how this sort of scenario has not changed, even at 2014 WC, the team almost did not want to play France at round of 16 for money being owed players… it has not changed! Even Rohr was owed and he had to shout to the press… Lol.
Its been overdue for matters relating to NFF be exposed . I remember when the Olympic Eagles were in Brazil and they won Japan 5-4 when a Japanese doctor who was impressed with how Nigeria who prepared within 2 weeks best Japan who have been preparing for more than a year for the football competition, gave the team a cheque worth millions of naira . During that time NFF hadn’t payee them a bonus after they won the African under 23 tournament that gave them the chance to qualify for the Olympics. On hearing that a million dollar cheque was given to the team , NFF tried to come in but the players revolted which later became national news.
It’s been long since a lot of injustice has been done to footballers in Nigeria and at this moment , a lot needs to be exposed .
It was indeed a shameful, disgraceful episode. I remember it well.
The NFF attempted to commandeer the money, the Japanese man found out, and insisted that the money be given directly to the team.
U are accused of something u did not do , u cant fight it , stand ur ground, even if they chase u away from the team , no matter how u will still continue to insist nd continue to tell the whole world, u did not do it , u can call press conference , tell them ur own side of the story, na all the journalists dey support nff officials? I am not convince anyway
@Olusegun B. Oboy your memory is keeps details to the hilt. Man! Do you know I have even forgotten that shameful episode with the Japanese man’s money? Hahahaha… Oh my country! Surprising how a shameless FA Chairman was spoiling brutishly to be given handling rights for the money… I think the said Japanese man even had to clarify that it was solely a contribution towards players’ welfare. Ironically that football bronze was the only medal a country of over 200million could manage in that Olympics…