President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Amaju Pinnick has criticized some members of the senior men’s national team, the Super Eagles following Friday’s dramatic 4-4 draw against Sierra Leone in a 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying game.
The Super Eagles raced to a four goal lead inside the opening 30 minutes of the contest but a stunning second half fight back saw the Leone Stars claw back the deficit to astonishingly claim a share of the spoils at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin.
Pinnick was far from impressed and while addressing the team shortly after the final whistle, the NFF Chief said some of the players were not deserving of representing the country at international level.
“That spirit of competition (in the team) is not there anymore,” Pinnick said. “I am not the coach but if I was, there are some (players) I will select and some that will not come to the national team again.
“Nigeria has two hundred million people and (those selected to play) should consider themselves privileged.
“Should I call (the draw versus Sierra Leone) a wakeup call? No, I will not! Nigeria is a big country. We don’t wake up playing against Sierra Leone!
“We wake up playing against (countries like) Brazil, Argentina and Senegal.”
Nigeria’s Super Eagles still top group L of 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying with seven points from three games.
They will face the Sierra Leoneans in the reverse fixture on Tuesday, November 17 in Freetown.
