The scribe of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Dr. Mohammed Sanusi says he is not feeling too good because the reality is hitting him in the face that the Super Eagles will not participate in the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
During the Africa World Cup Playoff in March 2022, Nigeria could not go past the Black Stars of Ghana and missed out on World Cup qualification on the away goal rule.
Sanusi is confessing that indeed reality is hitting him hard and concluded that it was God’s will that the Super Eagles could not qualify for the World Cup.
“It was a painful exit that we couldn’t make it to the World Cup and it always affect me. Psychologically, I don’t feel good as a Nigerian and football administrator,” the NFF scribe said on Brilla FM.
“We know that we are a very Godly people and believe that whatever happened comes from God. Destiny has happened. It was destined that Nigeria will not be there not because Nigeria was not good but because it was destined from God that we will not be there.”
Super Eagles have played three international friendly matches since March, losing all three to Mexico (2-1), Ecuador (1-0), and Algeria (2-1).
“Let’s take it that way and forge ahead. immediately Italy also didn’t qualify for the World Cup, they started playing friendly matches and that was exactly what we have done,” he continued.
“We are not happy and have no excuse for what has happened. Nigerians should forgive, forget, and let us forge ahead,” he concluded.
Nigeria will face Costa Rica in an international friendly match on November 10, 2022, before tackling Portugal seven days later.
Super Eagles of Nigeria has featured in six FIFA World Cups in 1994, 1998, 2022, 2010, 2014, and 2018. The team’s beat performance remains Round of 16 finishes in 1994 (USA), 1998 (France), and 2014 (Brazil).
Cameroon (1990), Senegal (2002), and Ghana (2010) are the only African teams to have reached the quarter-final of the FIFA World Cup.