Aminu Maigari, president of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has observed that the five African representatives for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil have resolved to make the continent proud at the tournament.
The NFF president made this remark in an interview with Cafonline.com, following a meeting between CAF President, Issa Hayatou and representatives of the five teams in Cairo on 21 February 2014. Nigeria is in Group F with Argentina, Bosnia & Herzegovina and Iran. Read the full interview below;
Nigeria has what might be called a lucky draw. Are you already thinking about the second round?
Aminu Maigari: Yes, it is a good draw but that is what every other team will be thinking as well. Every team will be doing their own preparations and there is no underrating any opponents since there are no more small teams or weak sides. Each of the 32 teams qualified for the World Cup cannot be underrated. We will go to Brazil and set out to give and do our best and see how far that takes us.
Nigeria has a young team with not much international experience, do you think this will count against you in Brazil?
Aminu Maigari: I don’t think so. Football is all about skill and executing your tactics well. What we have done with our team is to mix these young players with some experienced ones. We did this during the Africa Cup of Nations and FIFA Confederations Cup last year (2013), and it’s a strategy that we believe will serve us well.
What mindset are you approaching the competition with?
Aminu Maigari: Nigeria is going to Brazil to make sure that we will make the entire continent of Africa proud. In the same spirit, we wish well the other four African teams at the finals; Algeria, Cameroon, Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire, to also make the continent through their performance. We want to show that African football has grown and improved a lot over the years.
Preparation is key to the performance of a team. What are your plans in that regard?
Aminu Maigari: Under my leadership at Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), we have done away with short- term planning. Instead, we are focused on long term objectives and planning. Very soon the team will be moving to a training camp for preparations. We have arranged top quality and befitting warm-up matches for our team, to give as much adequate preparation as possible.
The beginning of the 20th century has been described as the perfect moment for African football. What in your opinion has been the cause for the failure to have an African team for the final of the World Cup or three teams at the quarter-final?
Aminu Maigari: I believe African football is growing faster than in previous times when these predictions were made. This time round, we might see some of the results of what I’m saying. Let us be patient and see what happens in Brazil 2014. African football will not let the continent down but make us all proud.
The NFF president made this remark in an interview with Cafonline.com, following a meeting between CAF President, Issa Hayatou and representatives of the five teams in Cairo on 21 February 2014. Nigeria is in Group F with Argentina, Bosnia & Herzegovina and Iran. Read the full interview below;
Nigeria has what might be called a lucky draw. Are you already thinking about the second round?
Aminu Maigari: Yes, it is a good draw but that is what every other team will be thinking as well. Every team will be doing their own preparations and there is no underrating any opponents since there are no more small teams or weak sides. Each of the 32 teams qualified for the World Cup cannot be underrated. We will go to Brazil and set out to give and do our best and see how far that takes us.
Nigeria has a young team with not much international experience, do you think this will count against you in Brazil?
Aminu Maigari: I don’t think so. Football is all about skill and executing your tactics well. What we have done with our team is to mix these young players with some experienced ones. We did this during the Africa Cup of Nations and FIFA Confederations Cup last year (2013), and it’s a strategy that we believe will serve us well.
What mindset are you approaching the competition with?
Aminu Maigari: Nigeria is going to Brazil to make sure that we will make the entire continent of Africa proud. In the same spirit, we wish well the other four African teams at the finals; Algeria, Cameroon, Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire, to also make the continent through their performance. We want to show that African football has grown and improved a lot over the years.
Preparation is key to the performance of a team. What are your plans in that regard?
Aminu Maigari: Under my leadership at Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), we have done away with short- term planning. Instead, we are focused on long term objectives and planning. Very soon the team will be moving to a training camp for preparations. We have arranged top quality and befitting warm-up matches for our team, to give as much adequate preparation as possible.
The beginning of the 20th century has been described as the perfect moment for African football. What in your opinion has been the cause for the failure to have an African team for the final of the World Cup or three teams at the quarter-final?
Aminu Maigari: I believe African football is growing faster than in previous times when these predictions were made. This time round, we might see some of the results of what I’m saying. Let us be patient and see what happens in Brazil 2014. African football will not let the continent down but make us all proud.
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