Nigeria was ill prepared for the 1998 FIFA World Cup because the Coach selected only one playable Striker, former Super Eagles Forward Jonathan Akpoborie has revealed.
Velibor Milutonovic was Nigeria’s Coach to the team’s second world cup appearance, but the Serbian had assembled a poor team ravaged by injury Akpoborie suggested.V
“Victor Ikpeba was the only in form striker at France 98, the rest were either injured, recovering or out of form,” he told brila.net.
Milutonovic selected four Forwards for the campaign in France.
Rashidi Yekini, Daniel Amokachi, Victor Ikpeba and Kanu Nwankwo were the Forwards named in the world cup squad.
Yekini was 34 in 1998 and was in the final months with FC Zurich before the tournament.
He would go on to make one appearance in France.
Daniel Amokachi played for Besiktas in the Turkish Super Lig and in spite of a good run with the side, had only recovered from a recurring injury before the world cup.
Ikpeba was named African player of the year, the season prior after an impressive campaign with AS Monaco.
Kanu Nwankwo had made only 12 appearances between 1996 and 1998 for Inter Milan before the World Cup.
He had returned to competitive action after a year’s hiatus between 1996-97, following the diagnosis of a heart defect.
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