By Tony Ubani, in South Africa
Former Super Eagles goalkeeper William Opara has blamed Nigeria’s early exit from the World Cup in South Africa on inexperience and lack of commitment on the part of the players.

Eagles

Opara, a former goalkeeper of Orlando Pirates Football Club of South Africa,  said that there was no zeal in the players to show that something was at stake while they also lacked fighting spirit.

“This year’s World Cup was painful, the African continent is hosting the event and African teams are not living up to expectations. The Eagles who a lot of people expected much from really disappointed many people.

We should go back to the drawing board, let us correct our mistakes and look forward to the next World Cup. Before that, we should start with the next Africa Cup of Nations which will be co-hosted by Equatorial Guinea and Gabon in 2012 before the next World Cup in Brazil.

The ex Flying Eagles captain to the Chile 1987 U-20 World Cup hinted that players’ inability to score goals dashed Nigeria’s hope of qualifying for the second round of the tournament, adding that the what is needed now are young and talented players to do the country proud in the future.