CRISIS HITS EAGLETS' CAMP

Unless the embattled Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) acts very fast, the prospect of the Golden Eaglets qualifying for the Under-17 African Championship and FIFA Under-17 World Cup now hangs in the balance, as some members of the technical crew have given a one-week resignation ultimatum if the federation fails to relocate them from their substandard FIFA Goal Project (FGP) camp.

One of the coaches, who confided on Daily Sunsports when the correspondent visited the team's camp and screening venue at the FGP over the weekend, lamented the deplorable state of the camp the federation kept them, insisting that it was a spat on their face to keep them on the place which did not bequeath their status.

'The board told us through one of them who visited us that the federation was having financial challenges, but I can't imagine how in its wisdom, the federation thought this dormitory should be the best place to keep coaches of our status. Yes, we are handling junior national teams, but it does not mean reducing our class to staying in this substandard place.

'I think the worst they could have done was to keep the players in this place and lodge us in a descent hotel around the city. Even if we were desperate for a national team job, there were certain things we could compromise. I can't remember when last I stayed in an uncomfortable accommodation and environment as this.

'In fact, we have given them one week ultimatum to do something about our accommodation or some of us would be left with no other option than to leave the job and camp in protest to the substandard accommodation the federation provided for us. If I'm so desperate for the job, another option for me is to pay for my hotel accommodation in the city and come to training,' one of them who craved anonymity confided in Daily Sunsports.

However, the coaches accommodation was not the only challenges facing the team, as drinking water, at the weekend, became a scarce commodity that many of the players who came for training and screening jostle to share a half litter of bottled water. The situation was so critical that the obviously complaining thirsty players prayed for the technical crew to substitute any player to benefit from the bottled water he would get, which in most cases resulted in four or five players sipping from the bottled water, depending largely on the magnanimity of the players involved.

When it looks as if the officials were not aware of the scarcity, Daily Sunsports correspondent was surprise to hear them announcing to the sets of players after training: 'Two players should share one bottled water. Make sure you have somebody to share it with you.'