Tunisia ’94 Africa Cup of Nations winner Mutiu Adepoju has urged Mikel Obi to seize his Rio 2016 Olympic Games chance to achieve the exalted status in the sport.
The national Under-23 team coach Samson Siasia last week named the Chelsea midfielder and South Africa-based goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi as his overage players on his 18-man squad for the men’s football event of the Rio Games in Brazil. The tournament is for players under 23 years.
Although the 2012 UEFA Champions League and 2013 Europa League winner’s Team Nigeria captaincy has sparked a national debate, the authorities have stuck to the 29-year-old, who will be assisted by veteran table tennis player Funke Oshonaike.
Former Super Eagles midfielder Adepoju, who hailed the sports ministry’s decision as the right choice, is backing Mikel to have the best performance in Rio.
The former Spain-based player, who represented Nigeria at the USA ’94 and France ’98 World Cups, believes the Eagles captain can light up the 2016 Olympics football event alongside Brazilian sensation Neymar – with support from the Nigeria Football Federation and the sports ministry.
“It’s always difficult to say what will happen in football, but the game is full of surprises,” Adepoju told our correspondent of the telephone during the week.
“Yes, Nigeria can win the Rio 2016 men’s football tournament like we did at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta.
“We have good players for the competition and I believe Mikel’s experience will help the team.”
The former Racing Santander player added, “Mikel will make an impact in Rio. The tournament has provided him with an opportunity to show his class.
“He should take advantage of the Olympics to establish himself as one of the best in the world.”
The former Real Sociedad attacker, popularly called Headmaster, lamented the country’s failure to qualify for the Zambia 2017 Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations, feeling sorry for the young players.
Nigeria lost 4-3 in Lagos to Sudan on Saturday after beating the Sudanese 2-1 in the first leg in Khartoum. The Flying Eagles failed to qualify for Zambia 2017 based on Sudan’s superior away goals
Emmanuel Amuneke has come under intense criticism from fans following his inability to steer the national team to qualification.
But Adepoju said his former Eagles’ teammate should not be blamed for the development, saying the ex-Barcelona winger did his best.
He said, “I feel for the players and the coach. It happens in football. You can’t predict what will happen.
“The players are really disappointed that they will not play in the tournament in Zambia and the World Cup.”
The retired player added, “Amuneke should not be blamed for our failure to qualify for the tournament. We didn’t lose to Sudan because Amuneke lacks experience as some people are saying.
“He won the Under-17 World Cup in Chile last year – and the Flying Eagles won the majority of their games under him.
“He’s not a bad coach. I understand why people are complaining. Nobody complained when he was winning.”
“He should take advantage of the Olympics to establish himself as one of the best in the world.”
The former Real Sociedad attacker, popularly called Headmaster, lamented the country’s failure to qualify for the Zambia 2017 Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations, feeling sorry for the young players.
Nigeria lost 4-3 in Lagos to Sudan on Saturday after beating the Sudanese 2-1 in the first leg in Khartoum. The Flying Eagles failed to qualify for Zambia 2017 based on Sudan’s superior away goals
Emmanuel Amuneke has come under intense criticism from fans following his inability to steer the national team to qualification.
But Adepoju said his former Eagles’ teammate should not be blamed for the development, saying the ex-Barcelona winger did his best.
He said, “I feel for the players and the coach. It happens in football. You can’t predict what will happen.
“The players are really disappointed that they will not play in the tournament in Zambia and the World Cup.”
The retired player added, “Amuneke should not be blamed for our failure to qualify for the tournament. We didn’t lose to Sudan because Amuneke lacks experience as some people are saying.
“He won the Under-17 World Cup in Chile last year – and the Flying Eagles won the majority of their games under him.
“He’s not a bad coach. I understand why people are complaining. Nobody complained when he was winning.”
0 comments:
Post a Comment
Your Comment have been submited and will be Visible after Approval