Former Super Eagles winger, Tijani Babangida, said the country has lost its football culture in Africa which of course contributed to the lessen fortunes of the sport.
This came in reaction to the Eagles’ heavy criticisms over their lack of a playing style, which may not be unconnected to the three-time African champions lose till the year 2020 ended.
The former Ajax winger, in an interview on PUNCH Online interview programme, Kick&Follow, stated that the present Eagles had no football culture, which had affected their awkward displays in recent times.
He said before whenever the Eagles play against any team with great strategy, the opponent are easily defeated.
He said, “We never knew Nigeria as a country that plays kick and follow football but we already lost our culture of football in Africa.
“We have our own culture of play, just like the Brazilians, and I believe only Nigeria and Brazil have that culture in football. But we have lost it.
“You will discover that whenever we play against any team with whatever tactics they come up with, they fall down easily when we start playing our game.”
He added, “Now we have changed and we are not looking for those kinds of players that suit the system. And then we find it difficult because we are playing the 4-4-2 defensive system and that’s why we are always having problem.
“Nigeria is a country with a lot of potential players and the only country that can compete with Nigeria in terms of potential is Brazil. We are almost the same as them and that’s why we were always beating other Africans or other nations when we play against them because we have the quality, we have the group and we also have the culture. But that culture is what we have lost.”