The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) yesterday described as unfortunate claims by the chief coach of the Super Eagles, Sunday Oliseh that the federation abandoned the team in Rwanda, claiming that he spent over $4,000 of his personal money to feed the players in the Super Eagles camp South Africa.
The NFF while debunking Oliseh’s claim that the team was abandoned, noted that Oliseh was being economical with the truth, insisting that even as the federation was faced with financial challenges; it made all the financial provisions for the team’s accommodation and feeding while in South Africa.
A member of the NFF executive committee, who reacted on the Super Eagles claims, regretted that such claims could come from Oliseh, adding that the federation was disappointed that the same coach who condemned the public comments from U-23 team coach, Samson Siasia on Eagles bonuses and salaries could come out to discredit his employers on his players’ welfare.
The NFF board member, who would not want to be mentioned, noted that Oliseh was aware of the financial position of the federation, insisted that he was hiding on the players’ welfare as an excuse for his poor technical management of the team that crashed out at the group stage of the CHAN.
Meanwhile, the NFF may have not come to terms with the embarrassing ouster of the CHAN Eagles in the championship.
General Secretary of the football house, Mohammed Sanusi said in a chat with The Authority yesterday, that the federation was still in pains over the 1-0 loss to Guinea that led to the Super Eagles exit from the championship.
Sanusi noted that it is only the NFF technical department and the technical crew of the team that could give answers to what happened in Rwanda, adding that the federation had provided all the needed administrative requirements for the team to excel.
“It is actually difficult to talk because of the pain we have faced as far as the exit of the Super Eagles in CHAN is concerned. We had a lot of confidence that the team was going to do well but it never happened the way we envisaged. So it is actually difficult for me or the NFF to explain the whole thing. I think the best thing is to ask the technical crew and technical department because they should be in the best position to explain. But as I said, I am not happy and I know Nigerians are not happy too that we are out of that competition”, Sanusi stated.