Nigeria should forget 2016 Olympics, Siasia cries out

In from Nifemi Daniel . . .
U-23 Eagles coach, Samson Siasia, has told whoever cares to listen that Nigeria might not qualify for the 2016 Olympics in Brazil if the Nigeria Football Federation continues to neglect the team.
Siasia, speaking during an interview on a radio station monitored in Lagos on Wednesday, stressed that the preparation of the team for the forthcoming Africa U-23 Nations Cup has not been smooth almost in every aspect.
The Africa U-23 Nations Cup takes place between November 28 and December 12 in Senegal with eight countries vying for the three slots to represent Africa in the football event of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.
“The situation in our camp is so bad but unfortunately, NFF keeps telling us that there is no money without giving reasons for this. To me, Nigerians are liars.
“It has gotten to the situation that I won’t just sit down quietly and die, I’m tired of the system.
“I want Nigerians to know at this juncture that I won’t be responsible for any bad result that may come out of our campaign in the African U-23 Nations Cup.
“We are yet to receive allowances for players in the past nine months. The coaches are being owed salaries for two months now.
“We fuel our own vehicles to run official schedules of the team and I am surprised all these are happening. There are no training kits for the team even till now.”

Read also: Siasia: I’ve no team for 2016 Olympics

He noted that getting players together is also a problem as many of the players come in and out of camp at will citing club commitment even at the expense of national duty.
Siasia said: “The problem I have with the clubs is not new. I have been facing it even before we went for the AAG in Congo. The players always want to go back to their clubs for matches and it is also because no motivation in our camp. If things are okay in camp, the players will be more comfortable to stay in national camp
“It took me courage to come out with what we are facing. We need to make positive changes before things get too bad. This team is already lagging behind; I pray the authorities will listen to us now because we do not have much time.
“I also want it on record that if things continue this way I should not be blamed for whatever happens in Senegal. The NFF knows what to do and we are waiting for them to act fast on the problems we are facing in the U-23 team.”

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