Former Chairman of the defunct Nigeria Football Association (NFA), Alhaji Yusuf Ali, has criticised the Super Eagles over their World Cup exit, slamming the players’ one-day strike in Morocco as poor conduct at a crucial moment, Footynaija.com reports.
He spoke after the loss to DR Congo in Rabat, a result that sealed another World Cup miss for Nigeria and raised fresh concerns about discipline and focus in the squad.
Nigeria went into the playoffs already under pressure, especially after failing to qualify for the 2022 World Cup. The build-up to the Gabon clash was expected to be focused, but that changed when the players staged a one-day training boycott over unpaid allowances.
Related Post
The protest threw off preparations and drew focus away from football at a time when the team needed full concentration. Though they eventually beat Gabon in extra time, the atmosphere around the squad never quite recovered, and the incident stayed in the spotlight.
The final matchup against DR Congo then brought more disappointment. Nigeria struck first through Frank Onyeka, but DR Congo fought back, forced extra time, and took the contest into penalties that went their way.
Coach Eric Chelle also sparked debate when he accused the Congolese bench of unsettling behaviour during the shootout, an accusation that the Congolese side denied.
According to a report by the Vanguard, Alhaji Yusuf Ali said the strike in Morocco left the team looking disorganised at a critical moment. He explained that both players and coaches allowed internal issues to overshadow their focus on qualification.
“Those players who boycotted training did not show patriotism and commitment to the cause,” he said. “That was highly irresponsible.”
Ali also addressed the financial side of the dispute. He said the players should not have been owed but reminded everyone that the strike did more harm than any delayed payment.
“They should not be owed but they are not poor. Playing at the World Cup will pay them probably more than the country,” he emphasised.
