10 February 2002
Lagos — Nigeria s World Cup preparations are threatening to unravel before they even begin as an all-too familiar slanging match erupted yesterday in the wake of the Super Eagles African Nations Cup exit.
Assistant coach Stephen Keshi said the squad had been demoralised by their treatment at the hands of Nigeria sports ministry officials who accompanied the team throughout the tournament.
Nigeria bowed out after a 2-1 extra-time semi-final defeat against Senegal on Thursday - and Keshi was quick to point the finger afterwards.
The former international revealed that ministry officials had upset players by threatening not to pay promised bonuses following the quarter-final win over Ghana because the team had "played rubbish."
Keshi also said ministry officials had vowed to send home players who refused to accept a deal over airfare refunds for squad members.
Players were also upset after sports minister Ishaya Mark Aku failed to enquire about the health of Ike Shorunmu after the goalkeeper was knocked unconscious during match against Ghana.
Several members of Nigeria s squad lined up to fire off salvos against ministry officials here Friday.
"We don t have any trust or respect for our officials," Tijjani Babangida said.
"It is not just to do with money. We hardly believe what they tell us any more because it is usually something that they will go back on the next time we see them."
"What a player treasures most is to come into camp with all his entitlements worked out and paid. Nobody is asking for anything outside what we are entitled."
Another senior player, who refused to be named, added: "Certain officials don t have the interest of the nation or even this team at heart. They were only here in Mali on holidays, nothing more.
"... they have clearly shown they don t support the coaches and they were only waiting for them to fail so that they will have an excuse to fire them."
Only coach Shaibu Amodu appeared to be willing to take a degree of personal responsibility for defeat.
"I will take full responsibility for our performance in Mali because I assembled the team. I am not making any excuses," Amodu insisted.
"If Nigerians are not happy with us, they should kindly accept my apologies.
"It would have been great going to the World Cup as African champions. But it was not to be and it is not the end of the world.
"Everybody must have learnt from this tournament and this experience will certainly help us for the World Cup."
Amodu, the first Nigerian to qualify his country for the World Cup, now faces an uncertain future with speculation rife that he will be dumped before the Japan-South Korea extravaganza.
Nigeria are drawn in the Group of Death with Argentina, England and Sweden.
Officials close to the team said it is now likely that a foreign coach will be named to boss Amodu as "technical adviser" for the tournament.(ACONS)
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