NFF Official Blames Sierra Leone Wonderful Comeback On Distraction
By Niyi Busari
An official of the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, has blamed the unbelievable comeback staged by Sierra Leone at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Edo State on distraction, BSNSports.com.ng reports.
The Nigeria Super Eagles had scored four goals in the 29 minutes with Everton forward, Alex Iwobi's brace, Victor Osimhen and Samuel Chukwueze scoring one goal each.
The Leone Stars netted three unreplied goals in the second half, having scored the first in the 41st minute capitalising on Chukwueze's blunder to slot in from close range.
An NFF official who spoke with BSN Sports on condition of anonymity disclosed that the team was faced with a lot of distractions in Benin with just two days to the important African Nations Cup qualifying match against Sierra Leone.
"There were so much distractions in Eagles' camp ahead of the AFCON qualifier against Sierra Leone. May be, they underrated Sierra Leone, forgetting there is no minnow in football again." The source told BSN Sports
"Many people coming in and out of the camp in the name of visit to the extend that the Minister of Sports, Sunday Dare, NFF President, Amaju Pinnick and Edo State Deputy Governor, Phillip Shuaibu who have no business being on the pitch trained with the team when they had little or no time to put the team in proper shape ahead of the crucial match."
"It is only in Nigeria that you mix politics with football, all these are distraction. Also, Osimhen and another player joined the team when it was an hour to the end of the training. The coach had to extend the training session with another one hour making use of the stadium's floodlight." He concluded.
Though, the three-time African Champions have not won any match since January this year, but the Super Eagles of Nigeria is topping group L with 8 points from four games closely followed by Benin Republic who have seven points.
Nigeria will play guests to Benin Republic in March next year and host Lesotho in the last 2021 African Nations Cup qualifier.
Sierra Leone last appearance at the African Nations Cup was in 1996.
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