The constant failure of the senior national team of Nigeria has drawn a reaction from former coach of English Premier League side Arsenal Arsene Wenger, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.
Wenger has long been a fan of the Super Eagles and in 2017 shortly after Alex Iwobi’s goal secured Nigeria a spot at the 2018 World Cup, he picked the Nigerian team as one that will make Africa proud at the tournament.
“Good morning congratulations to all our fans in Nigeria – I know that you are very, very many and we are very proud that you have qualified for the World Cup. On top of that of course, our player scored the goal for you and that makes us even prouder”, he said in 2018.
“Well done and see you at the World Cup and I’m sure you will have a great, great trip there “, he said in the 24 seconds video post on Arsenal’s social media handle.
The Nigerian team failed to get past the group stages at the world cup and failed to make it to the next one, which was held in Qatar. That failure and several others made the FIFA chief to tag three times Africa Cup of Nations winners as greatest underachievers in a chat with ace Nigerian journalist Osasu Obayiuwuna.
“I had a very brief chat with the former @Arsenal manager, now FIFA’s chief of global football development, Arsene Wenger on Thursday, at the @Hyatt in Sydney. When I told him I was Nigerian, this is what he said about #Nigerian football: “#Nigeria has incredible talent but they are one of the great underachievers in world football.” he posted on his social media handle on X.
I had a very brief chat with the former @Arsenal manager, now FIFA’s chief of global football development, Arsene Wenger on Thursday, at the @Hyatt in Sydney. When I told him I was Nigerian, this is what he said about #Nigerian football: “#Nigeria has incredible talent but they… pic.twitter.com/NiYLnxQW5k
— Osasu Obayiuwana (@osasuo) August 17, 2023
Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman
