Coach Samson Siasia has said he should not be held responsible should Nigeria fail to qualify for the Rio Olympics next month because his team have been treated like “orphans”.
Nigeria is drawn against Egypt, Algeria and Mali in the group phase of the Africa U23 Nations Cup in Senegal, which will serve as a qualifying tournament for next year’s Rio Olympics.
“Nigerians should know that we are not well prepared (for the championship) and I should not be held responsible for whatever happens,” blasted a bitter and dejected Siasia.
“We are orphans. We have not been paid our bonuses, while the Super Eagles were paid full bonuses even when they drew in Burkina Faso. We have been without allowances for the past nine months.
“How can you survive in this kind of situation, where you have not been paid for three months, no car, no training kits – we have to wash to wear our kits? It’s embarrassing.
“We can’t sit down quiet and die. I am tired of this place.
“The NFF keep saying they don’t have money.”
Besides the cash crunch affecting the team, Siasia repeated his complaint he has not had a full squad to train with because players have to always return to their league clubs for matches as the season hits the home stretch.
Four years ago, Nigeria failed in Morocco to qualify for the 2012 London Olympics.
