The Super Eagles Goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama yesterday attributed the Eagles’ poor performance against Iran to the absence of inspiration by the Nigeria Football Supporters Club (NFSC) on Monday in Brazil.
The NFSC did not arrive early enough to be part of the stadium crowd at Curitiba when the Eagles drew goalless with Iran.
The Nigeria/Iran match was a Group F opening game for both sides.
Enyeama, in an interview with newsmen at São Paulo, lamented that the Eagles missed the traditional drumming, singing and blowing of trumpets by members of the supporters club.
He said the situation made the whole stadium to seem like an empty and void space to many of the Eagles players.
“We were at a loss because we could not hear their usual drumming, singing and trumpeting which usually are our tonic for better and improved performance.
“Their support always gave us the zeal, because their presence does not only intimidate our opponents, it also gives us the courage that the whole Nigerians are behind us,” Enyeama said.
The security operatives had prevented members of the supporters club from bringing into the stadium their drums.
Many of the club’s members were also denied entry into the stadium for wearing Globacom-branded attire.
Nigeria will on Saturday, June 21 meet Bosnia-Herzegovina in their second match in Group F of the competition and will meet Argentina on June 25 in their last group match.
The Eagles had on June 16 drawn goalless with Iran in their first round group match, making it a must for the Eagles to win their next group matches.
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