Jonathan Akpoborie believes that the current Nigerian Football Federation crisis will affect the Olympic team

The former Nigerian striker, Jonathan Akpoborie believes that the current crisis affecting the Nigerian Football Federation will have an impact on the Olympic team. The under-23 team will participate in the Olympics football tournament later this year.

Jonathan Akpoborie has stated that it is unfortunate that each time it is the wrong people that are running the federation and that this is affecting the level of football in Nigeria. He said that Nigeria should wave goodbye to their dream of a gold medal at the Olympics if ever the current issues persist at the Federation.

The Nigerian coach, Samson Siasia, on the other hand, has stated that he is confident that his team will qualify from his Olympic group consisting of Japan, Colombia, and Sweden. But he is concerned with the temperature in Manus which may negatively affect his side.

He told media that the first match against Japan will not be easy, but they will have to get a result so as to build the momentum for the next matches. A win against Japan will indeed boost their confidence for the next games against Sweden and Colombia.

Siasia said that he is confident that Nigeria would make it to the quarter-finals and that they are preparing well for this. The Nigerian manager has already enjoyed success with the Olympics team, having won the Gold medal in Beijing 2008.

Nigeria has had a long history of success at the Olympics football tournament after having won several medals. But this time, Jonathan Akpoborie believes that it will not be easy because of the issues surrounding the football federation. He has called for more unity and urged the Nigerian football federation to work for the good of the game instead of fighting among themselves.