The former Super Eagles striker has blamed
uncertainty surrounding Stephen Keshi’s future as the main reason for
Nigeria’s defeat to Congo on Saturday and not on the Chelsea man
Former Nigeria striker Victor Agali has blamed lack of organisation and doubt over coach Stephen Keshi’s future as reason why the Super Eagles lost to the Red Devils of Congo in Saturday’s 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in Calabar.
While many have been quick to lay some of the on-field issues at the feet of Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel, Agali said that distractions ocassioned by the problems in the football house were responsible. Efe Ambrose put the hosts ahead early before the visitors turned the table against the reigning African champions, scoring thrice in a 3-2 victory, to put themselves in a favourable position to qualify for their first Afcon appearance since 2000.
The 35-year-old former Schalke 04 striker in his opinion said he saw the defeat coming as Nigeria was not in the right frame of mind going into the game.
"I am not surprised that the Super Eagles lost at home on Saturday. I know Congo very well and they play good football,” Agali told Goal.
"These are things that are likely to happen when you are not organised in the beginning. For a very long time, we have been discussing the contract of our coach instead of putting our house together and getting the best legs.
"Talking about Keshi too, settling his future is also very important. This issue about his contract should have been settled long after the World Cup.
"I know it was a tough task for him coming in at the dying minute to assemble a team to play a country like Congo.”
When asked if Nigeria’s defeat will in anyway affect Keshi’s demands from the Nigeria Football Federation, Agali said restoring the country’s dignity should be the main priority and not any individual.
"I think we are bigger than all these small stress that played a key role in our home defeat on Saturday. Keshi and even the sports minister are not important at this stage, all that is at stake now is restoring Nigeria’s battered dignity,” he continued.
"If our house was in order, the Eagles could have changed the game. You don’t have this kind of distraction before a crucial game like this because it will always backfire.
"And for the Congolese, they had nothing to lose because as we saw, they were more relaxed than we were."
However, he refused to single out Chelsea midfielder Mikel for blame insisting the defeat was a collective responsibility.
"It’s not Mikel Obi’s fault, it’s a collective responsibility here. And if he is not giving his best, the coaching crew are there to make adjustments.
"So it will be unfair to put the blame on Mikel, it’s a team game and if it’s not working together, its not going to work,” he concluded.
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