Festus Abu, Saint Petersburg
The Nigeria Football Supporters Club on Friday launched a stinging attack on the Nigeria Football Federation over the Super Eagles’ early exit from the Russia 2018 World Cup following their 2-1 defeat to Argentina in Saint Petersburg on Tuesday.
The group said the federation must take the blame for the World Cup ouster because “they don’t understand the politics of the game.”
Nigeria were one decision away from securing a second round ticket when the score was 1-1 but bungled it away due to inexperience.
Manchester United defender Marcos Rojo volleyed him from a Gabriel Mercado pinpoint cross to win the match in the 86th minute and send La Albiceleste, who were on the brink of suffering an early embarrassing exit from the World Cup, to the Round of 16.
The Saint Petersburg Stadium rocked throughout the clash with the two-time world champions Argentina getting large support in their fans who literarily took over the city before the game.
But a handful of Nigeria fans scattered in three corners of the plush stadium cheered on the Eagles.
The NFSC President-General Rafiu Ladipo, who spoke on behalf of the protesting supporters, called for the Federal Government to restructure football administration in the country.
“It’s too bad the Eagles are out of the World Cup, it was avoidable,” Ladipo told our correspondent.
“We came here believing we will get to the quarterfinals or semifinals, and it was possible but we gave the ticket to Argentina.
“Unfortunately we have people in the NFF who think they know everything but they don’t understand the politics of the game.
“How come FIFA gave a big football country like Nigeria only 4,500 match tickets? We saw Argentines everywhere in the stadium and everywhere in Saint Petersburg.”
The football enthusiast added, “The NFF gave us only 200 tickets for the match.We were scattered in the corners of the stadium because we were not given a block match ticket, and that is where the politics of the game comes in.
“The Eagles were denied our support because of the situation we found ourselves. Argentina came in large numbers to support their team to victory because they have people who understand the politics of the game and encourage their supporters to storm the stadium to save the country from an early exit from the tournament.
“We must restructure Nigerian football and get rid of administrators who have nothing to offer.”
Ladipo asked the NFF to explain to Nigerians why they sponsored persons who spent time in Russia loafing about their hotels.
He said, “The only people who came to support the Eagles are the supporters’ club members. But the NFF abandoned us and instead sponsored persons who had no business with our World Cup campaign in Russia.
“The NFF should explain what they did with the billions they got from the government.”
The club chief added, “This is the worst NFF we have had in the history of football in the country. At USA ’94, France ’98 and 2014 World Cups we got to the second round.
“This time round we didn’t get to the second round due to bad administration of the game in the country by the current NFF.
“The players did their best and we must commend their efforts.”
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