LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – JULY 03: Ibrahim Sunusi #24 of Nigeria shakes hands with Alfredo Talavera #1 after a 4-0 Mexico win during an international friendly game at Los Angeles Coliseum on July 03, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. Harry How/Getty Images/AFP
Speaking with The Guardian yesterday, Izilien said the decision by the NFF to expose the local players was good, but the execution was poor. “The players were hurriedly assembled within one week to face Mexico and we ended up ridiculing ourselves before the international community. I have always advised the NFF severally on the need to look inward by sending some of the coaches to the local government to scout for players. It worked for us in the old Bendel.
“I don’t know if those guys really prepared for that duel because that was what it looked like watching the game on television. They behaved as if they were just happy and pleased with being in the U.S. If not, they would have provided a strong opposition to the Mexicans. I cannot explain what happened to those guys in that match.“My phone has just been popping up with calls and text messages from friends asking me what happened that Nigeria lost scandalously like that to Mexico.
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