Arsene Wenger Speaks on Nigeria’s Super Eagles: “The Great Underachievers of World Football”

• Arsene Wenger seems to be displeased with what the Super Eagles have achieved internationally
• The former Arsenal manager admitted that the Nigerian squad is full of incredible talents
• However, he branded the team as ‘underachievers’, expecting them to have achieved a lot more

Former Arsenal manager, Arsene Wenger has branded Nigeria’s Super Eagles as ‘underachievers’, but admits that the squad is full of talent.

The FIFA chief of global football development said that Nigeria has incredible talents but have failed to reach the peak.

Nigeria has only won the Africa Cup of Nations title on three occasions despite reaching the final seven times.

They became the first African side to win gold in the football tournament at the Olympic Games following their feat in Atlanta, USA, in 1996.

The West African nation also boasts of players across Europe, but despite that, Wenger says that they are underachievers.

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He said, via Punch:

"Nigeria has incredible talent, but they are the great underachievers of world football."

Having won three Premier League titles, seven FA Cups and two Manager of the Year awards, Wenger remains one of the greatest tacticians in English football.

But his impact goes beyond the pitch, according to his former player Kanu Nwankwo. The former Nigerian international said:

"Wenger is not just a football coach. He’s a man who knows we are all human beings before footballers. And that’s why he was able to affect the lives of so many people positively."

The Super Eagles have converged in Uyo for their dead-rubber AFCON qualifier against Sao Tome and Principe slated for the Godwill Akpabio International Stadium on Sunday, September 10.

Chelsea tried to sign Taiwo Awoniyi

Sports Brief earlier reported that Premier League side Chelsea made a last-minute move to sign Super Eagles striker Taiwo Awoniyi from Nottingham Forest this summer.

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The Blues were one of the heavy spenders in the summer, signing the likes of Moises Caicedo from Brighton and Hove Albion, Romeo Lavia from Southampton, Nicolas Jackson from Villarreal, Robert Sanchez from Brighton, Christopher Nkunku, and others.

Despite signing so many players, Chelsea were still in need of a new striker a few days before the transfer window closed, due to Nkunku's injury, which was sustained during pre-season.