‘We didn’t approve it’ — NFF disowns statement criticising Ekong, Dessers

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has disowned astatement from its communications department that blamed specific players forthe Super Eagles’ 1-1 draw with South Africa — a result that jeopardizes thecountry’s chances of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup. In the aftermath of the match, an official statementattributed to the NFF singled out captain William Troost-Ekong and strikerCyril Dessers for criticism. It suggested that Troost-Ekong’s own goal “diminished theteam’s fighting spirit” and described Dessers as “too slow to latch ontopasses,” claiming he “did little in bringing alive the Nigerian attack”. The commentary provoked a chorus of condemnation acrosssocial media platforms, prompting a response from the federation’s leadership. Mohamed Sanusi, NFF secretary general, in an interview withjournalists, categorically distanced the federation from the statement. Sanusi disclosed the NFF “did not approve the statement”,adding that Nigeria’s poor performance was a “collective responsibility”. “Nobody in the headquarters was happy with that release, NFFdid not direct it,” he said. “NFF has respect for all the players, and it was acollective responsibility. When we win, it wasn’t an individual. And if welose, there should not be blame for any individual player. “It was a collective one. Nobody was happy. And we are nothappy that an individual is singled out.” Sanusi also defended Troost-Ekong, Netherlands-born32-year-old defender who made his Nigeria debut in 2015, emphasising that noplayer ever intends to score an own goal. He vowed that the NFF will takeaction on the matter. “No player would want to score an own goal. No player. Whenthings come, they come spontaneously,” he said. “The intention was for him to clear the ball. That was theintention. But as God will have it, it was a destiny that the ball entered. ButEkong would not deliberately score an own goal. No player would [want to] scorean own goal. That is understood by everybody that knows football. “That individual [Ekong] has contributed significantly tothe development of football in Nigeria. Remember last AFCON, he was the bestplayer, and we celebrated him. So, I don’t know how this thing came, butNigeria Football Federation is taking action on that matter.” The secretary general also dismissed any suggestions ofinternal conflict, asserting that the NFF, the National Sports Commission, andthe Nigerian government remain unified in their support for the players and coachingstaff. “The house is already in order. We don’t have any problem.As I said, we are not happy with that release. There is no problem as far as weare concerned and as far as our relationship with our players are concerned andthe coaching group,” he said. “I can tell you that both the Nigeria Football Federation,the National Sports Commission, and indeed the government of Nigeria are happywith the players. “We are not happy with the results, but we are happy withthe players because they have given in their very best. You could see that thefederal government delegation was there, and even after the match, the federalgovernment delegation together with the Nigeria Football Federation weretogether encouraging the players to forget about what happened and let us lookat what we have ahead of us.”

Read More