Why the Super Eagles are no more great – Rufai

– The Super Eagles must prepare well for the crucial Nations cup qualifier against Egypt

– Sunday Oliseh needs to evaluate himself

– The team should take positive lessons from the CHAN exit

Nigeria’s ex-international and arguably the best Nigerian goalkeeper of all time Peter Rufai also known as ‘Dodo Mayana’, was at the launch of Ikorodu United, one of the Lagos based newly promoted side to the Nigerian premier league.

In an interview with Naij.com Sports, the number one shot-stopper thanked the management of Ikorodu United for returning elite football to Nigeria’s commercial hub.

He also cautions Sunday Oliseh on the crucial Nations Cup and World Cup qualifiers which are fast approaching.

Excerpts:

Sir, Ikorodu United are being launched into the premier league, how do you feel about this?

I have to give the management big kudos. Not just for the success, but one-for-one I can tell you, it would not have been easy.

They have been consistent. If you want to move to the elite league anywhere in the world, there are big challenges, especially in this part of the world.

Having set up a team like this, you fit in the right people into positions, and this has told their story.

Players of Ikorodu United display their kit

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Looking at the management and the players, the technical crew, it is not easy managing players in this country. I can tell you, for them to have been able to keep these boys from different background is a big kudos.

For them to be promoted into the elite league, the fans in Lagos that have been longing for this; in fact we thought we would have it with Stationery Stores, it did not come true All efforts did not go well.

This time around, Ikorodu United have made it and I am glad on that note.

Looking at the Super Eagles and their early exit at the African Nations Championship, how did you feel as an ex-international?

Personally, I don’t think that tells well on grounds of what we should be doing now in Africa and in the world, in terms of football.

It is over three decades since Nigeria had dominated the scene; I am talking about the 80s, before my time, then during my time. Right now, we should be in a position of both knowledge of the game and playing of the game, as well as the knowledge of tournaments and participation and knowledge of preparation.

With all these, Nigeria today should have been masters. So, it tells it all. I am disappointed that up till now, we are still struggling with the game itself.

I think the challenges the team had encountered, we hear different information about not properly being taken care of and all that, but I know the present administration are doing everything within their reach. Now we have a Barrister Seyi Akinwunmi, a man with a well proven knowledge of soccer management alongside Amaju Pinnick, the president.

Peter Rufai

So, we know they are good hands and I wonder what would have happened. However, if we want to look at another perspective where we should know it is time to raise new players for the national team

To do this for the future, we should be ready to take the challenges.

So I think the exit at CHAN has served as a lesson and we should take it as a build-up process.

Now the World Cup and Nations Cup qualifiers are fast approaching, what lessons have we learnt from the early exit in Rwanda?

The early exit took everyone by surprise, because they walloped their Nigerien opponents in the first game.

Their game against Tunisia was a big one, as the North Africans are never push overs in African football; the last game against Guinea; I used to know the Guineans as a very tough team, though many would not observe this. The Camaras of those days, whenever we play against these guys, we are always on our toes.

So we should not let over confidence over shadow us. So, this has served as a lesson for the boys.

I hope this would be a morale booster for the team.

Sir, the Super Eagles will play a crucial AFCON qualifier against the Pharaohs of Egypt about 7 weeks from now, what are the ‘ingredients’ missing which you think Oliseh can quickly work on?

We don’t have anything missing in terms of expertise in our football. I only believe Oliseh would evaluate himself and then pick-up over expectations and work towards the victory of this crucial encounter.

Peter Rufai in action at USA 94′

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Finally, what’s your advice for the Ikorodu United players?

Fantastic! Number one they must be discipline, as long as they have this. You can describe the word discipline in over a hundred of pages.

As long as they can handle this with commitment, then the sky is not their limit. They would go as far as possible.

Thank you very much Sir.

It’s a pleasure.

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