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Exclusive: Some Players Not Keen On AFCON Due To Ebola—NFF Official

November 21, 2014

The official, who pleaded for anonymity, added that he strongly believes the unwillingness to take part in the championship contributed to the lacklustre display by some of the players who showed no hunger and desire in the qualification matches.

An official of the Nigeria Football Federation has revealed that it came to their knowledge that some players were not comfortable with the idea of participating at the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations in January due to fears over the Ebola virus.

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The official, who pleaded for anonymity, added that he strongly believes the unwillingness to take part in the championship contributed to the lacklustre display by some of the players who showed no hunger and desire in the qualification matches.

“It did come to our knowledge that some of them have fears of contracting the virus in the Africa Nations Cup, in fact some of them came out publicly to say they wish CAF would go ahead and postpone the events because they won’t be comfortable taking part in the Championship due to Ebola. That is why I believe some of them were not being serious intentionally because how can reigning champions be playing the way they did, it’s terrible,” he concluded.

Meanwhile, Eagles manager, Stephen Keshi who was brought back on the insistence of President Goodluck Jonathan to oversee the remaining two qualifiers is yet leave his post, despite hinting that he would support and pray for whoever is his successor after the 2-2 draw with South Africa in Akwa Ibom, which all but ended Nigeria’s dreams of retaining their crown in Equatorial Guinea. 

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