Nigeria Football Federation President Sani Lulu has revealed his utter disappointment following the national team’s early exit from the first World Cup on African soil.

Eagles

The Super Eagles picked up just one point from three Group B matches, losing to Argentina and Greece, while sharing the spoils with South Korea.

Lulu is not happy with the performance of the West Africans and is looking to the future for bigger and better things from the national team.

The NFF President revealed in a statement: “Following the failure of our national football team, the Super Eagles, to qualify for the Round of 16 of the 2010 FIFA World Cup finals taking place in the Republic of South Africa, I wish to acknowledge the disappointment of the NFF, the entire Nigeria football family, football-loving Nigerians and the Government of the Federal Republic over this ouster.

“It is sad because we all (players, technical officials and administrative officials) worked hard through the qualifying phase, and the period of preparation for this championship. More importantly, our President and Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces, His Excellency, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan (GCFR) did everything to gear the team for the competition, including visiting them twice within three weeks and giving them kind words and financial pledge.
“In the end, we have to come to terms with this early ouster despite our hopes, our dreams and our desires.

But we must acknowledge that the boys went down fighting. We apologise for this early exit from Africa’s first FIFA World Cup.

“We have learnt very painful lessons and we must prepare ourselves for the collective task of re-building our football. We thank all Nigerians for their immense support and we are grateful to Mr. President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic for his support all the way.

“The Government gave the Federation and the team every needed support. This is something we must give emphasis. But the expected progress did not happen and we just have to look forward.

Looking forward means sitting down and thinking hard and taking some critical decisions in the days and weeks to come. Despite what has happened, we are happy that our country competed well and our players gave their all as sportsmen, with courage and ambition.“They showed that we are truly good people from a great nation.”