Former Super Eagles’ midfielder, Edema Fuludu has come out with a startling verdict that he does not see Nigeria’s current squad making it to the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final in Morocco.
Sports247 reports that the former New Nigeria Bank of Benin City and BCC Lions of Gboko star, who was part of the Eagles’ 1994 AFCON winning team, however, conceded that the current squad could prove him wrong if they work hard at the ongoing competition.
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He reasoned further that he will keep on coming out to boldly declare his fears about the team’s chances in order for the players to psyche themselves up and fight harder for better results.
Fuludu, who became a football administrator after hanging his boots, expatiated: “I don’t see this team going all the way to the final. That is what we should all be saying, so that they will play better and get to the final. It’s not all of the players that are psychologically prepared.”
Fuludu then turned his focus on administrative support for the squad, as he charged officials of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to ensure everything needed by the team is provided at the right time and in the proper way needed by the players.
“I just hope that the NFF have done all necessary structural preparations. We don’t want to hear the players crying over accommodation … where they are staying, how it is and what it looks like.
“We don’t want to hear them complain about their allowances and other camp issues. All those things affect the psychology and psyche of a team.
“Once those things are taken care of, it would then depend on the physical level, fitness and tactical ability of the team,” Fuludu reasoned.
He concluded by noting the high standard of play and exposure each player is blessed with individually but warned that blending into a well-coordinated squad would be the biggest challenge confronting them in Morocco.
“I know that a lot of our boys are very tactically strong. The question, though, is: How do we mould them together to play the right tactical formation?
“The major issue they will have to tackle is doing what the coach wants them to do. All these are factors that must be put into consideration for us to do well.
“After the right things are done psychologically, structurally and tactically, anything can happen,” said Fuludu, who played for Altay of Turkey at the height of his career
