A strong African representation at next year’s FIFA World Cup has impressed Nigeria’s foremost national team captain, Ekeng Henshaw, who had no opportunity of playing in any FIFA organized World Championship.
The star player in his hey days told africansportsdigest.com this morning in Calabar, Southern part of Nigeria that qualifying for the Mundial is not enough, hence these elite teams should go back to the drawing board and prepare solid programmes for the teams ahead of the championship.
Said Henshaw: “I am happy African is making waves today. Who would not be? We’re hosting the World Cup and our teams should prepare well to show the World that the players we’ve supplied to them are no fluke.
“Our players are all over the World in top leagues unlike in our days. The organization may be poor here, but these players have what it takes to compete favourably with their maids elsewhere. The organizers must be a little bit upbeat and do the right thing to give Africa good representation. On paper, the teams are the best on the continent, but are they really ready for the competition?”
The 18 year old Henshaw, who was a member of the inaugural national team of 1949 went on to congratulate the Nigeria national team for making it to South Africa 2010 World Cup against all odds, but he is calling on the football authorities in the country to look beyond the qualification by assembling a crack team for the World Cup proper.