Cape Town - Nigerian legend Nwankwo Kanu believes the national team's
failure to qualify for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations shows that
"something is wrong" with the way the sport is being run in the country.
The Super Eagles were crowned continental kings in 2013 after lifting the AFCON trophy in South Africa, but will not be present to defend their title in next year's Equatorial Guinea showpiece after finishing third in qualifying Group A.
According to Football411, Kanu, who represented Nigeria for almost two decades during his playing days, admits 2014 has been an exceptionally poor year for Stephen Keshi's men.
"It is quite clear and we don't need to shy away from the fact that Nigerian football did not fare well in the outgoing year," former Arsenal and Portsmouth striker Kanu told Vanguard.
"This is as a result of the Super Eagles failure to qualify for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations holding in January 2015 in Equatorial Guinea. So if we are not featuring among the best football-playing countries in Africa, it simply means that something is wrong with our football this year.
"Honestly, we didn't do well in the game this year; it's just the honest truth. There is nothing good to write home about as regards the senior national team of Nigeria."
The Super Eagles were crowned continental kings in 2013 after lifting the AFCON trophy in South Africa, but will not be present to defend their title in next year's Equatorial Guinea showpiece after finishing third in qualifying Group A.
According to Football411, Kanu, who represented Nigeria for almost two decades during his playing days, admits 2014 has been an exceptionally poor year for Stephen Keshi's men.
"It is quite clear and we don't need to shy away from the fact that Nigerian football did not fare well in the outgoing year," former Arsenal and Portsmouth striker Kanu told Vanguard.
"This is as a result of the Super Eagles failure to qualify for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations holding in January 2015 in Equatorial Guinea. So if we are not featuring among the best football-playing countries in Africa, it simply means that something is wrong with our football this year.
"Honestly, we didn't do well in the game this year; it's just the honest truth. There is nothing good to write home about as regards the senior national team of Nigeria."