SUPER EAGLES NEED TO IMPROVE TACTICALLY, THE LAST TWO AFCON QUALIFIER GAMES VERY POOR — CHIKELUE
Reporter : UCHE NDEKE
Ex Super Eagles International, Mr. Chikelue Iloenyosi, says Nigeria needs to build a tactical team that can withstand football pressure at all times.
He was reacting to the outcomes of the AFCON 2022 qualifying ties between Nigeria and Sierra Leone, where the Super Eagles surrendered their four-stroke lead to the visitors in the first leg and the return tie which ended in a barren draw.
The ex international said that the country needed to form a formidable team that would not just qualify for tournaments but could withstand other big football countries.
Chikelue said though Nigeria had a team presently, more effort needed to be made in the area of character of players and determination to win games.
He described the last Super Eagles outing as very poor but was optimistic that the country would qualify for the Africa Nations Cup, despite the odds.
The former striker also spoke on the recent fourteen day ultimatum given by football appeal panel in Anambra State for a fresh election into the chairmanship position of the Football Association in the state.
Chikelue Iloenyosi said he was satisfied with the appeal panel’s decision which still considered him a sole candidate for the rerun whenever it would be fixed within fourteen days.
Chikelue said: “For them to come up with this means that the panel is made up people with passion and good character for football development.”
The FA unopposed chairmanship candidate said at the end of the day, his concern was driven by passion to change the narrative of football in Anambra State, promising to carry everybody along irrespective of who the delegates wanted.
“I don’t care who voted for or against me, all my passion is to develop grassroots football in my state. I am a leader who is driven by passion to come and do the right thing in sports for my state. I am very happy for the challenge, it prepares me for the task ahead. I am not a politician, I am a football person and man of integrity,” Iloenyosi stated.
In an interview, another ex international player and Sporting Director of Nnewi Football Club, Mr. Olisa Onuchukwu, said he was happy with the outcome of the appeal panel’s decision, which had vindicated his earlier position during the last FA election in the state.
Mr. Onuchukwu said all the gray areas, which he faulted during the ill fated election was cleared by the football panel.
“Today, I have been vindicated, the other candidate Ihiala Local Council Chairman, Mr. Micheal Mbaezue, that was thrown out, has been reinstated. As far as I am concerned, it was an ill fated election that had so many errors. But I am happy fresh election has been ordered and I am happy about the details and directive of the appeal committee judgement,” Mr. Onuchukwu said happily.
The football election appeal panel had on Monday, November 16, 2020 issued a press statement ordering the election committee to organize a re-run election for the Chairmanship position within fourteen days and with the same accredited delegates and sole candidate.