Maigari says No Pressure on Super Eagles to make Record Qualification in Brazil 2014
The President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Aminu Maigari has declared that neither he nor the NFF will be setting a stage qualification target for the Super Eagles in the upcoming 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.
The President who is presently in Brazil, leading a Nigerian delegation to the World Cup Draws holding tomorrow insisted that caution, not pressure should be applied in dealing with the Super Eagles towards their World Cup journey, although Stephen Keshi’s contract states that he needs to reach the quarter-finals.
He distanced himself and the Federation from target-talks although NFF vice-president, Mike Umeh, has been formerly quoted as saying the Super Eagles have the talent to reach the semi-finals of the World Cup and that officials are expecting the African champions to surpass the quarter-final feats of Cameroon, Senegal and Ghana in previous World Cup.
“You can’t predict the future or make demands going into a big tournament like the World Cup, I think it’s more reasonable to allow the team take it one game at a time. I think it’s unfair to put the team under so much pressure to reach the semi-finals. Some people can openly say things like this, but not the NFF.
“We need to provide the right environment for them to thrive positively at the world stage and give Africa and Nigerians a campaign to be proud of.
“Talks of semi-final, final and probably winning the tournament in Brazil is not coming from the football federation.”
Head Coach of the Super Eagles, Stephen Keshi in the same cautionary vein advised Nigerians to set realistic World Cup targets for the Super Eagles, as expectations from the team continue to heighten.
“We have to be realistic because there are no small teams among the 32 going to Brazil, any of the teams will be tough.”
