The secretary-general of Nigerian Grassroots Football Federation (NGFF), Pastor Oscar Ezinwa Emmanuel has opined that the Super Eagles deserve commendation for their efforts during Wednesday’s semi-final loss to Morocco at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
Sports247 reports that the NGFF scribe, who is fondly called ‘TM,’ noted that it was a tough game and posited that the Eagles should not be criticised but praised for gallantly facing one of the last FIFA World Cup’s semi-finalists.
Though he also admitted that losing the game via penalties was a painful setback, the football administrator-cum-clergyman posited that the Eagles showed tremendous improvements under their Franco-Malian tactician, Eric Sekou Chelle.
‘TM’ Oscar added in a chat with Sports247 that the team should be encouraged to defeat Egypt in the third place match on Saturday, and advised that Nigerians must stop scolding the players excessively.
The smooth-talking advocate of grassroots football, who is also the founder/president of Pison Divine Royals International Sports Promotions, pointed out that the Eagles put up an improved performance at AFCON 2025 and should get a pat on the back.
He declared emphatically, “They have done well, and I am sure these guys will improve more before their next competition. They have already improved, but they met the host nation at a crucial stage.
“Our players were able to coordinate themselves better and showed that they now understand the coach’s instructions. We are also getting the commitment we need from them.”
The erudite football promoter and youth developer concluded by expressing hope for victory over Egypt on Saturday and enthused that the Eagles will make their fans happy in their subsequent games.
TM Oscar projected, “Let’s watch and see what they will do in the third place match on Saturday. Criticism of the team should be less.
“We must understand that football is no longer played with the name of players and a country’s economic status. It’s about the quality of play on the pitch.
“All the same, our players did their best against the host nation; throughout the normal duration and extra time. It’s only that some of them did not play their penalties well.”
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