Former board member of the Nigeria Football Association (NFA) Mr. John Fashanu believes Nigerian football has been set back by at least 10 years in the 11 months Berti Vogts was in charge.
Fashanu, who was at the Ohen Djan Stadium, Accra Sunday to watch the Eagles capitulate meekly to the Black Stars, also questioned the commitment of the players wearing the once dreaded green jerseys.
“All the giant strides made in Nigerian football from the time Clemens Westerhof was in charge have been thrown away by this man (Vogts). In fact he has set our football back by at least 10 years.
“The Super Eagles have always been known for their offensive football but imagine through four games we laboured to score goals!”
Fashanu, who was a member of the Wimbledon team that upset FA Cup favourites Liverpool in the 1988 final, also questioned the FA’s decision making process for hiring Vogts in the first place.
“I think it was wrong to have employed him (Vogts) in the first place. Being a German his first mentality will be defensive and physical football, which goes against the grain of Nigerian football which is more skilful.
“And this clearly showed in our match with Ghana. Despite being a man up rather than put pressure on the Black Stars rear, where they had a makeshift central defender in Michael Essien we still sat back. Even when he was forced to make the first change (when Dickson Etuhu got injured) instead of using the opportunity to put on another offensive player, he replaced him (Etuhu) with another defensive midfielder! How were we to score the goals needed to take us to the semi-finals?
“We lost that match not that Ghana beat us.”
Fashanu, who was once invited to the national team, also took a swipe at the players who were on display on Sunday.
“They lacked commitment, but can you blame them? A player earning $80, 000 a week will not be willing to sacrifice himself for one competition taking place in Africa and thus lose his position in his club.
“Just wait and see the same set of players who played without any hunger on Sunday will be a changed set of players on display for their clubs this weekend.”
He advocated the need for the national team to look inwards towards players yet to make it big abroad. “At least they will still show a lot of commitment and because they to want to make names for themselves they will be willing to risk body and soul for the Eagles.
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