As the 2024 African Nations Cup (AFCON) in Cote d’Ivoire draws closer, concerns about the Nigerian football team’s readiness and potential performance have been raised. Ahmed Shuaibu Gara Gombe, the former chairman of Gombe United Football Club, has expressed considerable skepticism regarding the Super Eagles’ chances at the tournament.
Originally set for mid-last year, the tournament’s schedule was shifted to January this year due to adverse weather conditions in Cote d’Ivoire. This rescheduling has added an unexpected twist to the teams’ preparations, including Nigeria’s Super Eagles.
In an exclusive interview with The Guardian, Gombe pointed out key issues impacting the team. He highlighted the poor preparation of the Super Eagles and questioned the technical capabilities of the team’s coach, Jose Peseiro.
“Nigeria is unprepared for this tournament,” Gara Gombe remarked candidly. He expressed doubts about the team’s ability to make a significant impact, attributing this to low morale among the players and inadequate preparation.
Gombe’s critique extends to the coaching approach of Peseiro. According to him, the coach has used 45 players from the qualifiers to the present, indicating a high level of inconsistency. Gombe labeled the appointment of Peseiro as a ‘huge mistake’, criticizing the lack of tactical and technical discipline in the team under his guidance. “If anything positive happens in Cote d’Ivoire, it would be a special act of God,” he stated, reflecting his lack of confidence in the team’s current strategy.
Additionally, Gombe has raised serious allegations regarding financial mismanagement within the Sports Ministry. He criticized the alleged approval of a $1.3 million payment by the Presidency to settle debts owed to Peseiro. Gombe termed this move as ‘criminal’ and urged the Presidency to scrutinize financial requests from the Sports Ministry more closely to prevent misappropriation of funds.
Despite these challenges, the Super Eagles might still manage to qualify from the group stage, relying on the individual talent of the players. However, Gombe remains doubtful about their prospects in the knockout stages, attributing this to the poor technical handling of the team.
The 2023 AFCON promises to be an eventful tournament, with teams from across Africa vying for the prestigious title. While other teams like Egypt, led by Mohamed Salah, and England-based stars like Jude Bellingham and Bukayo Saka are receiving positive press, Nigeria’s preparations have been overshadowed by internal issues and controversies.
The Super Eagles, a team with a rich history in African football, find themselves at a crossroads. The coming weeks will reveal whether Gombe’s concerns are well-founded or if the Super Eagles can rise above these challenges and make a significant impact in the tournament.
