The administrator of the Super Eagles, Dayo Enebi Achor, has debunked reports that the players of the team could not exchange jerseys with their Malian counterparts after the international friendly on Friday, because the jerseys were inadequate.
Achor’s response came in the wake of reports that Nigeria’s Super Eagles used wash-and-wear jerseys for the game.
“We have received calls from Nigeria that people are happy about the performance of this young team against Mali. Most people believe that we are on to a good thing with this crop of players but someone is only interested in spewing falsehood to try and embarrass the nation.
“We use new jerseys for every match and we exchange jerseys when it is necessary. The jerseys belong to the players and they are free to do whatever they want with them after these two matches.”
According to news emanating from the ‘Glass House’, the new jerseys designed for Nigeria will be unveiled at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in August, where 1996 champions Nigeria is one of only 16 countries taking part in the men’s football tournament.
Meanwhile, the team arrived in Luxembourg City yesterday ahead of tomorrow’s international friendly against the Red Lions, their Luxembourgian foes.
The delegation lodged at the Alvisse Parc Hotel, had its first training at the Stade Josy Barthel – venue of tomorrow’s game – hoping for another victory and better performance, after grinding out a 1-0 defeat against one of Africa’s strongest teams at the Stade Robert Diochon, Rouen, France, on Friday.
Friday’s defeat by Nigeria was only the third loss in 11 matches for Mali in the past 14 months and the Malians have already qualified for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations with two matches to spare.