Buckle up or be bundled out – NFF tells Eagles

Ahmed Musa of Nigeria controls the ball against Federico Fernandez of Argentina during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Group F match at Estadio Beira-Rio on June 25, 2014....Glo demands improved performance

Patriotic fervour, defined by hard-fighting spirit, positive attitude and pride in wearing the green-white-green, was the underlying message on Wednesday night as chieftains of the Nigeria Football Federation held a frank-talk session with players and officials of the Super Eagles, following the shock 0-1 loss to Uganda in Uyo.
NFF President Amaju Pinnick and Executive Committee members held nothing back as they gave the team a piece of their minds an hour before midnight at Uyo’s Hotel Le Meridien.
It was the first time in recent memory that a sitting NFF boss and his deputies would tell players of their senior team straight to their faces to buckle up or be bundled out.
“When next you receive an invitation letter to come represent Nigeria, you have a critical decision to make: accept it only if you believe you are in the frame of mind to give your everything or decline if you do not feel that way. The camp of the National Team would no longer welcome average players or good players with poor attitude.
“Today, we are supposed to be celebrating with Vincent Enyeama on his 100th cap, but your poor performance has ruined the party and Nigerians are very angry,” Pinnick said.
Disclosing that the new NF has great plans for the welfare of players of the National Teams and emphasizing that only good results will encourage Corporate Nigeria to pump in the needed funds, Pinnick challenged the players to go to Nelspruit and beat South Africa’s Bafana Bafana on Sunday to somewhat redeem their image.
Also yesterday, a major partner of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and official telecommunications sponsor of the national teams, Globacom, enjoined Super Eagles not to be discouraged by the result of the last friendly match against Uganda which ended 0-1 against the Eagles in Uyo on Wednesday by approaching future matches with zeal and determination.
“While the loss was not impressive, particularly on the home turf and to a lowly rated team, we want the Eagles to pick up the pieces and play the remaining friendly matches designed to keep the team in shape, with zeal and determination so as to achieve the results that will enable them to win their way back to the heart of Nigerians,” Globacom said yesterday.