Nigeria's U-23 national team coach, Samson Siasia has insisted that the Super Eagles position on FIFA rankings does not reveal the true quality of the team.
The 2013 winners of the African Cup of Nations failed to defend their title in Equitorial Guinea, afterwards performing woefully against their opponents in friendly games since the beginning of 2015.
Owing to this, the Eagles team which just got a coach are ranked the 45th best footballing team in the world while maintained their 8th position on the continent of Africa.
“Ranking does not mean a team lacks quality but it is a way of telling the players that they need to do more and if we played two friendly matches and Nigeria still remain in the same position in the ranking, then the players need to work harder and make sure they improve on that,” says Siasia.
Also reacting to the Super Eagles ranking was former national team midfielder Mutiu Adepoju who urged Coach Stephen Keshi to make sure there is improvement in the team by ensuring that dedicated players are invited for the 2017 African Cup of Nations qualifiers.
“When we talk about ranking, it means the performance of the players and you can only talk about good performance when you have quality players in a team, so now that the ranking remains the same and we have the Nations Cup qualifiers coming up next month, I will appeal to Keshi to ensure that he invites quality players for the games”, says the Kwara Football Academy Administrator.
Adepoju however tipped the Super Eagles to qualify for the 2017 African Cup of Nations.
“I am sure that Nigeria will qualify having missed out on the 2015 edition. We have learned from that and with the Keshi’s appointment being confirmed by the NFF, I am sure that we will make it. completesports
FIFA rankings will make Super Eagles more serious- Samson Siasia
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