Stop attacking Super Eagles, Amuneke pleads with Nigerians

Interim Super Eagles assistant coach, Emmanuel Amuneke, has appealed to Nigerian football lovers to stop castigating the senior national team following their ouster from next year’s African Nations Cup, saying that the players needed encouragement and support to continue giving their best to the nation in subsequent assignments.

Speaking to The Guardian, Amuneke said the criticism trailing the players after the team’s 0-1 loss in Egypt on Tuesday was not healthy for the development of soccer in Nigeria, adding that it was capable of affecting the morale of the players in future engagements.

The national U-20 coach noted that the Eagles worked hard to in their bid to win the two games against Egypt and earn enough points to qualify for Africa’s prestigious football fiesta, but regretted that they were unlucky.

Amuneke revealed that the Super Eagles’ technical crew and players were not happy on the outcome of the game, adding, however, that the defeat would propel the players to keep working hard to ensure they qualified for the 2018 World Cup.

He called on the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to prepare a programme that will help the Eagles succeed in getting the ticket, while urging Nigerians to keep supporting and praying for the Eagles’ success.

“Castigating the Eagles after the loss to Egypt is not fair for the players. Nigerians should realize that these players are human beings, who also need encouragement and support to continue giving their best when they are on national duty,” he said.