AFCON Qualifier: Sports Minister Dare Tells Super Eagles Only ‘A Win Will Be Acceptable In Freetown’

The Minister of Youth and Sports, Sunday Dare, has lent his voice to criticism of the performance of the Super Eagles in their 4-4 draw with the Leone Stars of Sierra Leone at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin city on Friday and says the team must win the return leg.

The Super Eagles put up what was adjudged a below par performance from the national team, surrendering a four-goal lead at home to draw 4-4 in an AFCON qualifier that has so far generated controversy.

Dare on his part said the result was unacceptable and a disappointment, charging the Eagles to calm down nerves with a win in the return leg on Tuesday in Freetown but avoided the debate on the future of the Super Eagles coach, Gernot Rohr

He stated : “Nigerians have expressed a collective disappointment with the collapse of the team especially in the second half, giving up a 4-0 lead to a team that is ranked 88 times below our biggest football brand, the Super Eagles. I have expressed my disappointment with the result to the team and the Nigeria Football Federation. Like most Nigerians, only a convincing win in Freetown can assuage our feelings and bruised egos. Only a win will be acceptable in Freetown.

‘The task at the moment is to get the team firmly back on track towards picking one of the group’s two tickets on offer for the 2022 AFCON. A win in Freetown will seal a 19th participation in the African Mondial. After this, we can now debate Mr. Rohr’s suitability as we seek to return Nigeria to the pedestal of African football and one of the beautiful game’s power houses in world football. We will reappraise Mr. Rohr’s performance since he was named as Super Eagles manager and see if he is the right man to fulfil our expectations.’