Former Super Eagles midfielder, John Ogu, has come under serious criticism from officials of the Nigeria Football Federation over his comment on boycotting the next AFCON qualifier against Sierra Leone following the Lekki Massacre on Tuesday night.
The country’s football federation had expressed displeasure over his statement and thus, labeled him an unpatriotic Nigerian.
Speaking on World Football show on BBC World Service radio Ogu, who is back in Lagos having left Saudi Arabian club Al-Adalah in September said:
“What is the point in representing the country if this is what the politicians, the people we’re representing, can do to us? How can I go to the national team to represent my country, to represent the government and the people when I think of the lost souls of those who have been killed? Boycotting the AFCON qualifier in November would ‘make a statement’ in the protest the government.”
However the NFF disagrees and various officials insist that that such a call coming from John Ogu to other players to boycott of AFCON qualifier was uncalled for.
One speaking on condition of anonymity shared: “Ogu has just demonstrated that he is an unpatriotic Nigerian. How will he feel seeing the flags of other nations by the time hostilities begin for the 2021 AFCON in Cameroon? Every reasonable Nigerian, including the youths is thinking of how the country can move forward, and John Ogu is thinking of how to kill our source of joy (football).
“If Nigeria is going through some difficult moments, I expect the likes of John Ogu to act like Didier Drogba, who used their national team to end the civil war in Ivory Coast some years ago. He should look back to what Drogba did at the Al-Merrikh Stadium, Sudan, in 2005 during their qualifier for Germany 2006 World Cup. Then, a civil war that began in 2002 had divided Ivory Coast, and Drogba was able to bring ceasefire following his emotional appeal to those fighting for the government and the enemies. Till today, Drogba is a true legend in Cote d’Ivoire. That is what John Ogu should emulate and not a way of luring other patriotic players to boycott the AFCON qualifiers in November. ”
“I am sure Ogu is angry that he is no longer relevant in the team. In that case, he should work harder,” he concluded.
Recall that the last time the Super Eagles boycotted an AFCON event was in 1996 at the South Africa. They were subsequently banned for four years by CAF.
