Emmanuel Babayaro believes the Nigerian footballers accused of under-performance in the World Cup in Russia is paying more attention to fashion.
The Super Eagles
Atlanta ’96 Olympic Games hero, Emmanuel Babayaro, has slammed the massive attention given to Nigeria’s kits at the Fifa World Cup.
The Super Eagles’ jerseys have drawn more attention than any other at the tournament, sadly same cannot be said of their football.
The Super Eagles stole the limelight with their Nike-designed wears – a reminiscent of the country’s jerseys at their maiden World Cup appearance in 1994.
The kits have attracted fans, including Arsenal’s Gabonese star, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, for the three-time Africa Cup of Nations.
However, the kits did not help Nigeria in any way in their opening fixture against Croatia where they lost 2-0.
Babayaro has, however, condemned the attention given to the jerseys and has questioned the team’s commitment to the round leather game.
He told Goal, “We are too engaged in playing to the gallery. Everybody is showing off in our jerseys, we’re the best dressed, we’re the best fashionistas.
“Football doesn’t give room for any of this. If you give football 100 percent, it gives you back 100 percent.”