Addressing the Super Eagles players as they were having dinner on Friday evening, Nigeria Football Federation boss Amaju Pinnick singled out one Glasgow Rangers player for praise despite the national team's shock 1-0 loss to Central African Republic.
The football administrator, a FIFA Council Member, noted that central defender Leon Balogun was willing to help his teammates especially in midfield.
But all Balogun's good work came to nothing as he was scapegoated for the loss to Central African Republic after he made a costly defensive error that led to Karl Namnganda netting the winning goal in the 90th minute.
"I want us to redouble our efforts. I saw the zeal in Balogun, wanting to go to the midfield to help them," Pinnick stated.
"He was going out of his way, I saw the zeal. Very good spirit but is it productive enough?"
"He was going out of his way, I saw the zeal. Very good spirit but is it productive enough?"
Pinnick has urged the Super Eagles players to cast aside their painful loss to Les Fauves and bounce back in tomorrow's matchday four clash in Douala.
"Let us forget whether we are playing for Napoli, Union Berlin, Genk, Leicester, Arsenal, let us know that we are playing for the biggest club in the world - that's the Nigerian Government, we are playing for this country.
"It is more important than playing for any club because it is what you play that determines your respect for your club," he added.
"It is more important than playing for any club because it is what you play that determines your respect for your club," he added.
Joe Aribo, who started against CAR, and left-back Calvin Bassey are the other Rangers players currently on international duty with the Super Eagles.
After three rounds in Group C of the 2022 World Cup qualifiers, Nigeria lead the way with six points accumulated, two more than Cape Verde and Central African Republic.
Ifeanyi Emmanuel
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