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  NIGERIA
Picture Finidi - predicting early exit. (Allsport)

FINIDI WRITES OFF EAGLES

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Axed Nigeria winger Finidi George doubts Africa's Super Eagles will survive the first stage of next month's World Cup finals.

The task was already a daunting one in the so-called 'Group of Death' which also includes Argentina, England and Sweden.

Now George alleges that players had sneaked into the Nigeria squad ahead of the more experienced and predicted that it will be costly.

And he says a basic lack of communication between the coaches and players could also prove detrimental.

"I know the atmosphere in the squad is bad and that's going to harm us,"he told Lagos newspaper This Day after coach Festus Onigbinde left him out of Nigeria's 23-man squad.

"I hope for the best but it will be a miracle if we reach the second round," added George, who battled injury for much of last season and struggled to find form as his English club Ipswich Town were relegated.

Nevertheless, George feels Onigbinde has omitted him from the squad for the wrong reasons.

"I sincerely believe I should have been picked to go to the World Cup," he said.

"I know there was a lot of pressure for certain players to go but there are a handful who weren't part of the coach's original plans who sneaked in."

George did not name names.

"I'm very disappointed with the way I've been treated," he said.

"I've played for the national team for years and I at least expected more respect.

"I understand each coach chooses the players he wants but Nigeria has not been fair to me. I haven't even been given an explanation."

The Nigeria press blamed the omissions of George and two other leading players, Sunday Oliseh and Tijani Babangida, on an internal revolt following Nigeria's semi-final exit at the hands of Senegal from the African Nations Cup in Mali in March.

George is convinced the drama persuaded Onigbinde to drop him.

"Lots of things were said in Mali and the majority of them were incorrect," he said.

"I didn't lead any campaign and now those rumours have seriously harmed me. This is not the way to help Nigeria."


 
Group F Standings
Sweden 5
England 5
Argentina 4
Nigeria 1

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