ENYEAMA TEARS NFF BOARD APART
The decision of the Super Eagles' Chief Coach, Samson Siasia, to exclude Nigeria's first choice goalkeeper, Vincent Enyeama, from the list of players to prosecute the crucial Nations Cup tie against the Syli National in Abuja, has put strong line of divide among the members of the executive board of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).
Although a member of the board and Assistant Chairman of the Technical Committee, Chief Felix Anyansi-Agwu, who represented the federation during the unveiling event in Abuja on Tuesday had insisted that Siasia deserves commendation instead of condemnation, other members of the board who spoke to Daily Sunsports were not comfortable with the decision.
Anyansi had while endorsing Siasia's decision, stressed; 'The truth is that we cannot see this kind of crisis happening in the clubs of these players. Let us not glorify this trivial issue. The federation is not encouraging any kind of hostility against the senior players. Siasia should rather be commended for what he is doing especially for having the courage to wield the big stick.
'I don't think it is an issue which concerns a particular player. We have quality players to take over any other player's role. If we don't give players opportunity, we may not discover how good that player may be. It is a lesson and warning to all players in Nigeria that days are gone when they hold the country to ransom,' he warned.
Meanwhile, while reacting to the decision, some board members who preferred anonymity condemned the decision during interaction with them, describing it as a big risk and dangerous gamble from Coach Siasia considering the magnitude and crucial nature of the match. While arguing that since Enyeama had apologised publicly to the coach and Nigerians, Siasia would not have dropped him as a disciplinary measure for his protest over the flight arrangement during our last away match against Madagascar.
'Siasia should pray that the result of the match does not go against us otherwise it would not only be a risky gamble but also an attempt to incur the anger of many Nigerians. Our worry is that Aiyenugba lacks that confidence as we saw in Antananarivo. We don't gamble in a crucial match of this magnitude.
'Do you think that the board and Nigerians will clap for Siasia if we fail to win this match? We need a trusted hand like Vincent in this match and like we read in the media, he has tendered public apology to the coach and Nigerians over his action.
'Let us not forget that Enyeama has a clean record of discipline since he joined the Super Eagles. Again, since he has shown that remorse and since Siasia dropped him against Madagascar, he would not have stretched the discipline to this important game again.
'We commend him for instilling discipline, but he must do it with human face not on the altar of ego. He should pray he gets the desired result to help us pick the ticket otherwise, he would be on the cross,' some of the board members argued.