Nigeria 2013 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) hero Sunday Mba has voiced his sentiments over Nigeria’s failure to qualify for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations..
.
Mba scored twice at the 2013 Afcon, his second the winner as the Super Eagles overpowered Burkina Faso 1-0 in the final in Johannesburg to become African champions for the third time.
.
The CA Bastia midfielder said failure to make it to the Afcon just two years after emerging champions underlines “falling standards” in Nigerian football.
.
“I was actually shocked after we drew (our final qualifying) match against South Africa. It was a painful moment because it meant that we would not be going to Equatorial Guinea,” Mba told supersport.com.
.
Nigeria failed to reach the 2012 Afcon finals co-hosted by Gabon and Equatorial Guinea but were crowned kings of the continent a year later and Mba sees a similar script playing out yet again.
.
The 26-year-old predicts that the Super Eagles will rise like a Phoenix from the ashes “if the rights steps are taken.”
.
“Standards have fallen and we have to go back to the basics of giving the home-based players a chance to shine.
.
“The national team coaches appear to be doing that from what I saw of our last two games against the Ivory Coast and Yemen.
.
“It is a very sad thing for the football world for an Afcon to be held without Nigeria but we must strive to bounce back from this,” he said.
.
Mba, once touted as the new golden boy of Nigerian football, has dropped out of reckoning in the past 12 months.
.
He was dropped from Nigeria’s final 23-man squad for the 2014 Fifa World Cup by head coach Stephen Keshi, a decision which he said numbed him with shock.
.
“I was very, very sad (to be excluded) but I always believe that God has a reason for everything that happens in life.
.
“But as soon as the matches commenced, I did not waver in my support for the Super Eagles.
.
“We did well by reaching the second round where we lost to a very good France side,” he said.
.
Mba has scored five times in 21 senior appearances for Nigeria.
Support InfoStride News' Credible Journalism: Only credible journalism can guarantee a fair, accountable and transparent society, including democracy and government. It involves a lot of efforts and money. We need your support. Click here to Donate