Monsieur Arsene Wenger, FIFA’s chief of global football development, and former Arsenal FC Manager believes the Super Eagles of Nigeria possesses an incredible talent to be a great footballing nation, but they have failed to attain their heights.
Wenger came down hard on the Super Eagles as Nigeria host Sao Tome and Principe in their final Africa Cup of Nations Group A clash at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State on Sunday. The Eagles have won the AFCON thrice in the history of the competition despite reaching the finals on seven occasions.
They also won gold in the men’s football event at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta as well as silver at the Beijing Olympics and bronze at the Rio Olympics in 2016. Despite their feat globally, the former Arsenal coach believes the Eagles are underachievers considering the abundant of talent they have.
“Nigeria has incredible talent, but they are the great underachievers of world football,” Wenger was quoted as saying. The Frenchman is one of the most successful managers in English football having won three league titles, a record seven FA Cups, and two Manager of the Year awards.
However, the impact of Wenger’s on Nigerian players goes far beyond the pitch according to his former player Nwankwo Kanu.
