"I feel bad watching other teams play instead of our Super Eagles"-Isaac says....as Africa Cup of Nations begins today

Isaac Semitoje,a former Super Eagles defender was mute for a while when he was asked to speak on the 2015 African Nations cup which begins today in Equatorial Guinea.
The former defender who was really sad and shocked,finally gathered himself and said "It is so sad that we have to learn in a hard way,as an ex-player for the team,I always feel bad watching other teams play instead of cheering our Super Eagles in a big occasion like this,I am not happy,but as I said,our failure to qualify for the 2015 Nations cup is a hard lesson to every Nigerian,especially those of us in the football family"
Semitope  who played street ball as a kid on the streets of Ibadan,grew to become one of the greatest footballers of his time.
While still in Edokpolor Grammar School Benin,he was the captain of the school's football team,and he led them to many sports events,where they won many trophies for the school.
He played his way to the National team after playing for various clubs,including Niger valley,FC of Benin,Utility bombers and many other football clubs.
Semitope later bulldozed his way to the National team,and was part of the Super Eagles team to Algiers '90 African Nations Cup where the team bounced back from a 5-1 defeat to the host in the opening game to reach the final,where they lost 1-0 also to Algeria.
Another Super Eagles former player,who was part of the heroic Tunisia '94 squad,Edema Fuludu,said that the absence of Nigeria in the 2015 Nations cup may affect the country's domestic league,because it may reduce the chances of scouts coming to look for players in the Nigerian league.
Another ex-international,Teslim Fatusi said that it is a pity that many fans would not have the opportunity of cheering up the Super Eagles,A Former Eagles Goalkeeper Segun Oguns,said the country's absence would affect the country's soccer development,he said that it is a big shame that the country could not make it this time after winning the cup in the last edition.
It would be recalled that this is not the first time the Super Eagles did not make it to the Nations cup,for instance in 1986,Nigeria did not qualify for the 1986 edition,and it also withdrew from the tournament in 1996 because of a diplomatic stand-off with South Africa,the host country then.
The Super Eagles also didn't make it to the 2012 edition of the competition.
The host country Equatorial Guinea will get the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations underway when they face Congo,it will begin at 18h00 CAT.