AFCON 2015: Ladipo weeps over Nigeria’s absence

With just few days to the commencement of the AFCON 2015
Nations Cup in Equatorial Guinea, President General worldwide
of Nigeria Football Supporters Club, Dr Rauf Ladipo said he
can’t believe Nigeria is not part of the soccer fiesta.
Ladipo who was close to tears told Daily Sunsports yesterday
at his Apapa, Lagos office that it is a big shame that the
Eagles are not anywhere near the action spot moreso when
Nigeria is the defending champion.
“It is now one is facing the reality of our not being in
Equatorial Guinea. In another few days action will start and
for me and my men it is a most painful miss. It is a big
shame that we are not there and those running the game in
the country appear not to have learnt anything from the
mistake. Agreed the Eagles just played a friendly, but the
team remains coach less.
So, effectively we have not started planning for 2017. The NFF
must take urgent steps to get Keshi to put pen on paper and if
he (Keshi) is not comfortable with the pay cut the NFF is
offering, then we should go for another coach now,” Ladipo
said.
Ladipo charged members of the nation’s football family to put
the interest of the country first rather than fighting for selfish
interests.
He noted that the country’s failure to qualify for the 2015
Nations Cup was clearly a fall out of the crisis rocking
Nigerian football.
“I just hope those fighting for the soul of Nigerian football
would sheath their swords this year and focus on the growth
of the game. The crisis rocking our football has not helped us
in anyway. We can’t continue to fight and destroy the game in
the country,” Ladipo pleaded.