Nigeria Suspends Her Soccer National Team For Poor World Cup Showing

Singapore
July 1, 2010 1:33am CST
Nigeria, the more heavily favored African nations for this 19th World Cup Soccer Tournament which lost its first two World Cup group stage matches but still came just one goal short of advancing with their draw against South Korea, resulting in their first round exit of the tournament - has now come under fire as their President Goodluck Jonathan had just decided to BAN the team from competing for TWO (02) years!!! Now, I may sympathize the footballers and the national football association of Nigeria but I do not see anything wrong with that especially when the team had such a poor performance and showing. They (the team) need to consider the efforts made by their fans and countrymen to support and cheer for them in the tournament. I think it is an admirable act of the country's highest statesman to do such a thing and disregarding the implications from Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), the country have taken the necessary disciplinary action to chastise the whole team. How do you improve an underachieving team? Ban it from competing for two whole years which hopefully will spur them on to playing better by not allowing them to play at all. Maybe France should try this. What do you think? Read more: http://g.sports.yahoo.com/soccer/world-cup/blog/dirty-tackle/post/Nigeria-suspends-national-team-for-poor-World-Cu?urn=sow,252542
1 person likes this
3 responses
rafaelnadal007
@rafaelnadal007 (731)
• India
9 Jul 10
Nigeria soccer team has been suspended for poor performance in this world cup!! Unbelievable, but Nigeria has done it. They perhaps believe this suspension may help and teach some lesson to the footballers, committee and staffs of the soccer team. This may alert the others too but I think this is a harsh decision taken by Nigeria. Suspension, penalize these are the punishments for all the sports but they should first look the kind of guilty. First round exit doesn't deserve suspension but they should be encouraged more and more for better performance. Nigeria is not a high profile team like the European teams nor they own a high profile coach, good staffs, world class infrastructures and so on. Lets hope the suspension will be lifted very soon. They will train better, involve themselves more to achieve success. Good Luck to them!!!
1 person likes this
skysuccess
@skysuccess (8858)
• Singapore
9 Jul 10
rafaelnadal007, To be fair, team Nigeria was really a disappointment in this tournament especially when they have an enviable and reputable lineup compared to South Africa and Ghana who have been much more impressive. In all fairness, the Nigeria we see this year is really a far cry from the Nigeria team we know from the past 2 world cup tournaments. Their performance was really well below par and I am just not surprise for whatever was coming and every one in the team has to take responsibility, being that they play as a team and go down as a team as well. Anyway, you might be glad to know that FIFA is having its way on this one with the Nigerians and the President of Nigeria has backed off with his ban.
jlamela
@jlamela (4898)
• Philippines
2 Jul 10
That's a sad news about the Nigerian team. I cannot comment about their performance because I never seen them played, but at least the Nigerian government should consider many factors of the poor showing of their players. Maybe there's plenty of reasons, they should be given a chance or hear their side before the decision made.
1 person likes this
skysuccess
@skysuccess (8858)
• Singapore
2 Jul 10
jlamela, To be fair, Nigeria is considered one of the best African state team amongst the Africa teams like South Africa, Cameroon and Ghana. There is really no excuse for their dismal showing except one of complacency where they disregarded their opponent Greece which cost them to loose their match to them 2-1. Depleted they faced the South Koreans and yet after taking the lead just could not go on which led to the Koreans catching up and overtake them for the lead. If it had not been the penalty awarded the Nigerians would really have to bow out in shame. Yet, out of all the odds Ghana which was never even considered quarter finals hopeful is already through to the quarters, with a likelihood of even appearing for the semis. Reasons may be plenty but you can be assured that there were millions who watched and saw it - that there's really no excuse at all.
ram_cv
@ram_cv (16513)
• India
10 Jul 10
The irony is the president's name is Goodluck Jonathan :) Goodluck to you Jonathan for taking such a stupid step. I do not think that you should suspend the national team or do any such stuff. Instead appoint a new coach and let him put together his team which can take the game forward. I think FIFA will step in and ban Nigeria from all it's competitions if this step goes through further. Cheers! Ram