Olympic Eagles Failure: Gutted Minister Charts New Course For Nigeria Football

The Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Mr Sunday Dare, has revealed plans to halt the current decline into consistent failure being experienced by Nigeria Football following the surprising ouster of the Olympic Eagles from the ongoing U23 African Cup of Nations championship in Egypt.

Holders Nigeria couldn’t make it past the group stages of the AFCON tournament after securing a 0-0 draw with South Africa on Friday night. Coach Imama Amapakabo’s boys needed an outright victory to leap frog the Amagluglug into the semifinals of the tournament.

This recent setback means that Nigeria will not be represented at the male and female football event of the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games. The Falcons were also knocked out of the race for the Olympic Games by Ivory Coast a few weeks ago.

A disappointed Minister Sunday Dare has however identified the need to return to the basics to develop a ‘long term plan for football development’ in the country in order to arrest this ugly decay.

“Nigeria’s game against S.A. (South Africa) which ended in a draw concentrates the mind. Time to take a look back and find out where the rain began to beat us. Like I said before, our football needs a return to the basics of grassroot football, pristine sports admin, sound technical coaching…,” the honourable Minister tweeted early on Saturday morning.

“Government will take appropriate steps and in a timely fashion to improve our football fortunes. Current outcomes offer the opportunity to review, restrategize and develop a long term plan for football development. We will dust up great ideas already abandoned and implement.

“Nigerian football across the spectrum will benefit from this new outlook which will involve critical stakeholders. Government, mindful that Nigeria is a football nation will be bold in embracing best practices in modern football.”

Nigeria’s game against S.A. which ended in a draw concentrates the mind. Time to take a look back and find out where the rain began to beat us. Like I said before, our football needs a return to the basics of grassroot football, pristine sports admin, sound technical coaching…

— Sunday Dare,CON (@SundayDareSD) November 16, 2019

Government will take appropriate steps and in a timely fashion to improve our football fortunes. Current outcomes offer the opportunity to review, restrategize and develope a long term plan for football development. We will dust up great ideas already abandoned and implement

— Sunday Dare,CON (@SundayDareSD) November 16, 2019

Nigerian football across the spectrum will benefit from this new outlook which will involve critical stakeholders. Government, mindful that Nigeria is a football nation will be bold in embracing best practices in modern football.

— Sunday Dare,CON (@SundayDareSD) November 16, 2019

It would be recalled that the Golden Eaglets earlier in the month also failed to make it past the round of 16 at the FIFA U17 World Cup in Brazil.