But for the timely intervention of the Minister of Sports and Youth
Development, Solomon Dalong, Nigeria’s dream to play in the men’s soccer
competition at the Rio Olympics in 2016 may have been scuttled. Even
before the first ball was kicked by the team at the African Cup of
Nations U-23 Championship which ended last weekend in Dakar, with
Nigeria defeating Algeria 2-1 in the final, the Coach Samson
Siasia-tinkered team were heading for failure.
Siasia, had in the run-up to the Championship in Senegal, warned of
the impending failure because of a combination of factors, ranging from
non-payment of camp allowances and winning bonuses and clubs’ reluctance
to release the players for national duty. Camping conditions were also
said to be poor.
These factors, it appeared, weighed down the players’ morale, which was evident in their opening two group games against Mali and Egypt, which ended 3-2 and 2-2 respectively.
In the game against Mali, the team ran to a 3-0 first half lead, only to be pegged back twice but held out for an hard-fought 3-2 win. A near-similar situation came up in the game with Egypt, where after scoring two goals, they conceded twice.
According to sources close to the team, the players played those two games with little or no motivation as their entitlements and allowances were yet to be paid as at that time. Even in their final group game with Algeria, where they needed a draw and a Egyptian defeat to qualify for the semifinal, the players were still being owed their due allowances.
Worried with the way things were going, the Sports Minister had to initiate moves for money to be taken to the team to guard against anything that could make the team lose the Olympics ticket. We learnt that Dalong wanted to route the money through the Nigeria Football Federation but later changed his mind and directed that the money be sent directly to the players in Senegal by ministry staff.
Dalong directed the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Sports and Youth Development, Christian Ohaa to take the money to Siasia and his players, who on receiving it were inspired to go all out for victory in the final game with Algeria, which they won 2-1. Interestingly, the First Vice-President of NFF, Seyi Akinwunmi had praised the contributions of Ohaa and the Director General of the National Sports Commission,Alhassan Yakmut in the success of the Olympic-bound team.
Akinwunmi said “ the NFF wants to give kudos to the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports, Mr. Christian Ohaa and the Director –General of the National Sports Commission, Mallam Alhassan Saleh Yakmut. These persons did much to inspire the players. They came with excellent words of motivation and the boys had no choice but to go out and perform at optimal level.”
CHAMPIONS…
Victorious CAF U-23, AFCON Champions, Nigeria’s Dream Team celebrate
after defeating Algeria in the final, Saturday night.
These factors, it appeared, weighed down the players’ morale, which was evident in their opening two group games against Mali and Egypt, which ended 3-2 and 2-2 respectively.
In the game against Mali, the team ran to a 3-0 first half lead, only to be pegged back twice but held out for an hard-fought 3-2 win. A near-similar situation came up in the game with Egypt, where after scoring two goals, they conceded twice.
According to sources close to the team, the players played those two games with little or no motivation as their entitlements and allowances were yet to be paid as at that time. Even in their final group game with Algeria, where they needed a draw and a Egyptian defeat to qualify for the semifinal, the players were still being owed their due allowances.
Worried with the way things were going, the Sports Minister had to initiate moves for money to be taken to the team to guard against anything that could make the team lose the Olympics ticket. We learnt that Dalong wanted to route the money through the Nigeria Football Federation but later changed his mind and directed that the money be sent directly to the players in Senegal by ministry staff.
Dalong directed the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Sports and Youth Development, Christian Ohaa to take the money to Siasia and his players, who on receiving it were inspired to go all out for victory in the final game with Algeria, which they won 2-1. Interestingly, the First Vice-President of NFF, Seyi Akinwunmi had praised the contributions of Ohaa and the Director General of the National Sports Commission,Alhassan Yakmut in the success of the Olympic-bound team.
Akinwunmi said “ the NFF wants to give kudos to the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports, Mr. Christian Ohaa and the Director –General of the National Sports Commission, Mallam Alhassan Saleh Yakmut. These persons did much to inspire the players. They came with excellent words of motivation and the boys had no choice but to go out and perform at optimal level.”
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