The future of Nigeria football is in no doubt in serious jeopardy as the men’s national teams at all levels crashed out of major tournaments in recent months, DAILY POST reports.
Over the last one year, Nigeria football has experienced setbacks from the Super Eagles to the Olympics Eagles, Flying Eagles and Golden Eaglets.
The Super Eagles failed to participate in the 2022 FIFA World Cup, which was won by Argentina in Qatar last December.
They had lost against their West African counterpart Ghana in a double-leg World Cup qualification fixture last year.
Also, the Olympics Eagles (Dream Team), under the guidance of coach Salisu Yusuf, failed to qualify for the U-23 African Cup of Nations, AFCON, which will take place in Morocco later this year in November.
Guinea defeated the Olympic Eagles 2-0 on aggregate in March to qualify for the 2023 Africa U-23 African Cup of Nations.
As a result of the defeat against Guinea, the Dream Team won’t be part of the next Olympics games football event in 2024.
Angered by the performance of the Olympic Eagles, the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, later sacked Yusuf.
On their part, the Flying Eagles are the latest Nigeria national team that crashed out of the ongoing 2023 U-20 FIFA World Cup in Argentina.
The Flying Eagles were eliminated from the World Cup on Sunday night after losing 1-0 against South Korea in the quarter-final encounter.
Choi Seokhyun scored the winning goal for the Asians in extra time to ensure South Korea qualified for the semi-final stage ahead of Nigeria.
Speaking after his team’s elimination from the U-20 World Cup, Flying Eagles head coach, Ladan Bosso eulogised his players for their performance in the game against South Korea but hinted they were let down by their poor finishing.
“We tried our best, but it was not good enough. Our finishing was not good. But you can see we have left a group of players for the federation to build on,” Bosso said.
Also, the Golden Eaglets, meanwhile, failed to qualify for the FIFA World Cup that will take place later this year after they were recently eliminated in the quarter-final stage at the 2023 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations by Burkina Faso.
A semi-final berth would have seen Nduka Ugbade’s men confirmed as one of the four representatives from Africa at the World Cup.
Their performance against the Junior Etalons of Burkina Faso was painful to watch as they lost 2-1.
The Golden Eaglets’ elimination raised questions about their level of preparedness under coach Nduka Ugbade, who was later sacked by the NFF.
DAILY POST reports that over the last 12 months, it means either the Nigeria coaches at national team levels are not performing well, or the NFF have failed to do its job to ensure the right coaches or players represent the country.
Speaking with DAILY POST on the developments, Isa Saleh Sadiq, a Football Scout and the CEO of International Football Academy based in Northern Nigeria, urged the NFF to do whatever it takes to save the future of Nigeria football.
According to Sadiq, the NFF needs to appoint the right coaches, invite the right players and put all necessary facilities in place to ensure they get the perfect motivation to represent the country.
“Sorry to say this, but the future of Nigeria football is in danger at the moment.
“As you know, all the national teams from the senior level to the youth level have failed to have a big impact in recent major tournaments,” Sadiq told DAILY POST on Monday.
“The sooner the NFF wakes up, the better for Nigeria football. Sometimes they [NFF] get it wrong for the coaches they appoint to manage the national teams and the players they invite to represent the country.
“A lot is involved, even the welfare of these players and coaches. How well are they motivating them?
“Just see the Flying Eagles, who we put hope to at least reach the semi-final of the World Cup, lost painfully against South Korea.
“Personally speaking, they should have won that match after doing so well in their previous matches against the likes of Italy.
“My message to the NFF is that they should wake up from their slumber and manage Nigeria football well. They can outsource and see what other countries are doing well that we are not doing right.
“We used to have formidable national teams at all levels in the past, but the reverse is the case now.
“I just wish the NFF well. It has to start with the head, and once they get it right in terms of management, the others, such as standard facilities, the welfare of the players, the right or best coaches to manage the boys, will follow suit.”