By By Augustine Kalu on February 2, 2017

Former England and Wimbledon striker, John Fashanu has joined millions of Nigerians who have expressed disappointment with the failure of the national team, the Super Eagles not being in Gabon for the 31st Africa Cup of Nations.

Speaking exclusively to Daily Sports, the Soccer Ambassador described the Eagles absence as most unfortunate saying that he is personally pained by the national failure to be in Gabon. He, therefore, called on the stakeholders to ensure that the sad experience does not repeat itself in the future.

“First and foremost I would like to say that the failure of the national team, the Super Eagles to qualify for the 31st edition of the Africa Cup of Nations is most unfortunate,” Fashanu said.

“It is painful to say the least because we failed for the two consecutive times to be in Equatorial Guinea and Gabon. It has never happen in the history of Nigerian football that is why it is most regrettable.

“I don’t think that those who qualified and participated in the championship are better than us but we did not do our homework well. That is why I want to use this opportunity to call on those at the helm of affairs of football to ensure that this unfortunate situation does not repeat itself in near future,” Fashanu demanded.

Speaking further, Fashanu said it was like the country was not doing enough in the development of the sports because according to him, Africa as a continent is blessed with abundant talents particularly Nigeria.

He, therefore, called on those whose shoulders the discovery and nurturing of these talents rest on to ensure that efforts are made to discover and nurture these abundant talents in order to give the country the much need quality players that can hold their own any time they are called upon to serve the country.

“I think that our inability to qualify for the Gabon Nations Cup stems from lack of quality players and this is very sad because we have abundant talents here in Africa particularly in Nigeria.

“I think that we are not doing enough on the aspect of the development of the game. We should do more in this aspect by way of discovering more talent and nurturing them. There should be more championship through which the talents would be discovered. I don’t see much championship these days in the country and there is no way you can discover these burden talents without championships,” Fashanu explained. 

•Photo shows John Fashanu

Source Daily Sports

Posted February 2, 2017

2026 W’Cup miss, moment of profound sadness –...

Medvedev beasts Nishikori to win Japan Open

ABS Cracker: We won’t miss Alhassan, others —...

Eagles were held hostage, insists Eguavoen

Ronaldo banned, fined £50k over phone incident

Ramos never apologised for Champions League final elbow...