Africa Football Discussion || Current Topic: AFCON 2025 Qualifiers - CAF.

[Wakate]

Most of the players are very entitled, look at Okocha still hustling everyday and yet there's some unknown one, thinking they deserved to be treated as kings.

Okocha is one example, I still see Kanu Nwankwo hustling, and other players like Ahmed Musa who we hear have invested heavily into real estate. These are example of a few players who realised early the need to invest the money they make while they are still playing. And then even though there can be arguments that the footballer of these days earn lesser, is footballer during this time can still squander the money they have and I will not blame the government for not paying attention to them after they have been settled for a couple of years as players in the super eagles.

You don't have to conclude that football players earn lesser compared to what other players are earning in the time paste. Football is becoming more interesting these days and we don't have to dispute that looking and more frequent activities that are being organized by football association to make it more interesting. During the time or Okocha and Kanu, what they are being paid then is far lesser compared to what current players of these time are earning. Football team are spending more money these days to ensure they get the best result monetizing their club page, shirts, and their assets to earn more keeping the club active.

[SatoPrincess]

However, another case here that this player could be left like this is mismanagement of funds when they had access to much funds, they failed to plan for their future and their retirement age, and end up living a lavishing life, why would a player of this honour had to suffer difficulties of funds and without being able to pay up his hospital bill.

99% true and let's not act like Nigeria owes them anything because they would had been paid for their service to the country.

They get bonuses and other special treatments so they shouldn't be entitled to anything unless there's a retirement plan that they should be entitled to provided by the government.

Most of the players are very entitled, look at Okocha still hustling everyday and yet there's some unknown one, thinking they deserved to be treated as kings.

I don't wish anyone bad but good health still, we should be more responsible for our retirement lifestyle. We should be planning how our retirement ages will be like. Plan for the future and you won't be left feeling left out.

Right! Many of our ex players are very entitled. Truth be told some of them would have played for foreign countries if they had the opportunity so let’s not act as if they are all playing for the love of the country. Jay Jay Okocha was very serious about his money. I remember during President Olusegun Obasanjo’s tenure, Okocha was captain of the national team and he refused to appear in any of the Super Eagles match because his savings in a Nigerian bank worth millions of naira was missing. The President had to step in and resolve the issue before Okocha returned to play for the Super Eagles.

[Justbillywitt]

Not everyone will be in a hurry to be among this mess.

So it is when they become a reject that they see it fit to be in the mess? We aren't serious as a country if we keep accepting this players and the players need to understand that they have the power too.

If they take the national team serious, our governing body will have to take them serious too. Everyone knows the mess the country is in but there are sectors that are becoming serious because the people in the sector decided to be serious with their craft.

I'm not angry with them for choosing England over Nigeria but what I'm angry about is them falling back to Nigeria when things don't work out for them. They obviously won't be playing for us with their full mind because there mind wasn't here in the first place.

Boss this is not just happening in the sporting sector in Nigeria. This kind of mentality is practically visible in every sector of the country. We Nigerians don't rate our own as first choice. Both our government officials, top business men and women prefer the white Man county before ours. From education to hospitals, manufacturing etc, our people always go for the ones in Europe as first choice before considering the Nigerian made. Such things has creeped into the whole system, so when people from Nigeria have the opportunity to make their initial choice of international representation in football they consider the foreign country as plan A.

Will you chose a country where you don't matter unless you are among the privileged elites. Players can't be more patriotic than the leaders and others citizens of the country. I will do the same if I had the opportunity, I will consider playing for another country first before considering Nigeria. And Nigeria don't know how to manage talents and that's another reason why players consider them as second choice.

[SatoPrincess]

Not everyone will be in a hurry to be among this mess.

So it is when they become a reject that they see it fit to be in the mess? We aren't serious as a country if we keep accepting this players and the players need to understand that they have the power too.

If they take the national team serious, our governing body will have to take them serious too. Everyone knows the mess the country is in but there are sectors that are becoming serious because the people in the sector decided to be serious with their craft.

I'm not angry with them for choosing England over Nigeria but what I'm angry about is them falling back to Nigeria when things don't work out for them. They obviously won't be playing for us with their full mind because there mind wasn't here in the first place.

Boss this is not just happening in the sporting sector in Nigeria. This kind of mentality is practically visible in every sector of the country. We Nigerians don't rate our own as first choice. Both our government officials, top business men and women prefer the white Man county before ours. From education to hospitals, manufacturing etc, our people always go for the ones in Europe as first choice before considering the Nigerian made. Such things has creeped into the whole system, so when people from Nigeria have the opportunity to make their initial choice of international representation in football they consider the foreign country as plan A.

Will you chose a country where you don't matter unless you are among the privileged elites. Players can't be more patriotic than the leaders and others citizens of the country. I will do the same if I had the opportunity, I will consider playing for another country first before considering Nigeria. And Nigeria don't know how to manage talents and that's another reason why players consider them as second choice.

Their Plan A may pay better than their home country but they will always be a second class citizen there. We criticize players and call them racism when they say that some countries national team are filled with players from Africa, but it is facts. You see a European country in the World Cup and 90 percent of her players are black or have their heritage in Africa. Some of these players were born in that country and lived there all their lives so it’s easy for them to make that decision, others choose to be there for personal reasons like you mentioned. Kudos to Hakimi for choosing to play for his home country Morocco despite being called to play for Spain. That’s the kind of mentality a player and a countryman should have.

[Lida93]

Not everyone will be in a hurry to be among this mess.

So it is when they become a reject that they see it fit to be in the mess? We aren't serious as a country if we keep accepting this players and the players need to understand that they have the power too.

If they take the national team serious, our governing body will have to take them serious too. Everyone knows the mess the country is in but there are sectors that are becoming serious because the people in the sector decided to be serious with their craft.

I'm not angry with them for choosing England over Nigeria but what I'm angry about is them falling back to Nigeria when things don't work out for them. They obviously won't be playing for us with their full mind because there mind wasn't here in the first place.

Boss this is not just happening in the sporting sector in Nigeria. This kind of mentality is practically visible in every sector of the country. We Nigerians don't rate our own as first choice. Both our government officials, top business men and women prefer the white Man county before ours. From education to hospitals, manufacturing etc, our people always go for the ones in Europe as first choice before considering the Nigerian made. Such things has creeped into the whole system, so when people from Nigeria have the opportunity to make their initial choice of international representation in football they consider the foreign country as plan A.

Let not judge these guys for taking the kinds of difficult decisions they take in playing for other nationality than their original native. Everyone wants to find himself in a space where they will be well appreciated and given the regards as due. Same applies to these players, they want to be where they well insured before, during and after their football career and we all know that the NFF discards this guy's after their career ends which is  different from what's obtained in those other countries they run to. Mayne the NFF needs to quell the already existing precedent if they want these boys to prioritize the Nigeria national team first before others and not the other way round as we having it now.

[Odusko]

Not everyone will be in a hurry to be among this mess.

So it is when they become a reject that they see it fit to be in the mess? We aren't serious as a country if we keep accepting this players and the players need to understand that they have the power too.

If they take the national team serious, our governing body will have to take them serious too. Everyone knows the mess the country is in but there are sectors that are becoming serious because the people in the sector decided to be serious with their craft.

I'm not angry with them for choosing England over Nigeria but what I'm angry about is them falling back to Nigeria when things don't work out for them. They obviously won't be playing for us with their full mind because there mind wasn't here in the first place.

Boss this is not just happening in the sporting sector in Nigeria. This kind of mentality is practically visible in every sector of the country. We Nigerians don't rate our own as first choice. Both our government officials, top business men and women prefer the white Man county before ours. From education to hospitals, manufacturing etc, our people always go for the ones in Europe as first choice before considering the Nigerian made. Such things has creeped into the whole system, so when people from Nigeria have the opportunity to make their initial choice of international representation in football they consider the foreign country as plan A.

Will you chose a country where you don't matter unless you are among the privileged elites. Players can't be more patriotic than the leaders and others citizens of the country. I will do the same if I had the opportunity, I will consider playing for another country first before considering Nigeria. And Nigeria don't know how to manage talents and that's another reason why players consider them as second choice.

Their Plan A may pay better than their home country but they will always be a second class citizen there. We criticize players and call them racism when they say that some countries national team are filled with players from Africa, but it is facts. You see a European country in the World Cup and 90 percent of her players are black or have their heritage in Africa. Some of these players were born in that country and lived there all their lives so it’s easy for them to make that decision, others choose to be there for personal reasons like you mentioned. Kudos to Hakimi for choosing to play for his home country Morocco despite being called to play for Spain. That’s the kind of mentality a player and a countryman should have.

The truth of the matter is that, most African player's who are playing on other National clubs have one thing as they target which is the payment and better players welfare over there, if you have being following up with the way and manner most Nigeria and other African countries player's are treated poorly, you will not blame them for optioning for to play for foreign countries instead of they own home country and the case of racism become none important to them as long as the get paid and given the chance to develop and showcase they talent, because you have to know that at some point racism is not a general thing and only few individuals and country have such an attack on foreigners so for that our players will likely focused on countries that have value for their talents and also treat the with respect and equal to they own citizens.

[Stepstowealth]

...

And then even though there can be arguments that the footballer of these days earn lesser,

During the time or Okocha and Kanu, what they are being paid then is far lesser compared to what current players of these time are earning.

Thank you for the correction because what you actually said is what I meant to say but I misplaced the words and passed the wrong message. Footballers of now earn far better than footballers of those days because of the numerous opportunities that we have available now and the attention that the sport has gotten.

[Davidvictorson]

Footballers of now earn far better than footballers of those days because of the numerous opportunities that we have available now and the attention that the sport has gotten.

I have been thinking about this and while the comparison is okay, I do not think that it is a good or bad thing not that I am saying that that is what you are implying. What I mean is that if we look at it, there were just as much opportunities in those time as there are for the footballers at this time. The advancements they had then were enough for them to do what they needed to do and succeed as we those in this time. It is all different eras, and I don't think that it was a disadvantage on them. Things were relatively less expensive them and the opportunities that existed them was suited for them at that time.

[Spaceman1000$]

Most of the players are very entitled, look at Okocha still hustling everyday and yet there's some unknown one, thinking they deserved to be treated as kings.

Okocha is one example, I still see Kanu Nwankwo hustling, and other players like Ahmed Musa who we hear have invested heavily into real estate. These are example of a few players who realised early the need to invest the money they make while they are still playing. And then even though there can be arguments that the footballer of these days earn lesser, is footballer during this time can still squander the money they have and I will not blame the government for not paying attention to them after they have been settled for a couple of years as players in the super eagles.

Footballer of nowadays earn higher than the time of Okocha, however during the time of JJ, there where still players that didn't make investment, so I don't feel it's just peculiar with the players of these era but I feel is basically on individual differences, that is not to say that players of these generation are not investing, as most of them are heavily into real estate and other kinds of investment. Even the JJ okocha, I have not really seen any investment ascribed to JJ, apart from advertorials he normally does for bet companies.

[Pokapoka124]

Most of the players are very entitled, look at Okocha still hustling everyday and yet there's some unknown one, thinking they deserved to be treated as kings.

Okocha is one example, I still see Kanu Nwankwo hustling, and other players like Ahmed Musa who we hear have invested heavily into real estate. These are example of a few players who realised early the need to invest the money they make while they are still playing. And then even though there can be arguments that the footballer of these days earn lesser, is footballer during this time can still squander the money they have and I will not blame the government for not paying attention to them after they have been settled for a couple of years as players in the super eagles.

Footballer of nowadays earn higher than the time of Okocha, however during the time of JJ, there where still players that didn't make investment, so I don't feel it's just peculiar with the players of these era but I feel is basically on individual differences, that is not to say that players of these generation are not investing, as most of them are heavily into real estate and other kinds of investment. Even the JJ okocha, I have not really seen any investment ascribed to JJ, apart from advertorials he normally does for bet companies.

Aside from Jay Jay Okocha hustling, let’s not forget he played in Qatar and the wages there have always been higher than leagues in Europe so he was never broke. It’s true that back then players didn’t earn as much as much as they do today. Another football legend, Ronaldinho who was a teammate of Jay Jay Okocha in PSG was in jail because he could not pay his taxes. It was Lionel Messi who paid for Ronaldinho. Which brings me to my point that it’s not about being a Nigerian but how well you invested during the best times of your career that will determine your success after football.

[Hewlet]

Ahead of the super eagles last game for the AFCON qualifier against Libya, Eguavoen has released the team he's to work with and due to osimehn's injury, he's missed out on the team.

Here's the Full Squad List:
Goalkeepers:
Stanley Nwabali, Maduka Okoye and Amas Obasogie (Fasil Kenema SC, Ethiopia)

Defenders:
William Ekong, Bright Osayi-Samuel, Bruno Onyemaechi, Oluwasemilogo Ajayi,  Calvin Bassey, Olaoluwa Aina and Benjamin Tanimu.

Midfielders:
Wilfred Ndidi, Raphael Onyedika Alhassan Yusuf Abdullahi,
Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, Frank Onyeka and Alex Iwobi

Forward
Samuel Chukwueze, Chidera Ejuke, Ademola Lookman
Kelechi Iheanacho, Victor Boniface, Moses Simon and Taiwo Awoniyi.

Even though osimehn is out of the squared, with the current performance of victor Boniface, if he's able to replicate that in the super eagles game against Libya, it will yield a good result and give us an easy qualification to the AFCON.

[Stepstowealth]

Which brings me to my point that it’s not about being a Nigerian but how well you invested during the best times of your career that will determine your success after football.

Some of these footballers have bad financial managers that do not give them proper advise on how to invest the money they earn when they are at the peak of their career. Some of these footballers made the wrong decision to put the financial decisions to make in their own hands and not in hand of professionals, some of them ended up making wrong investments and spending money on unnecessary things. Their career ended very quickly and they get into the shock that the money they have left will not be able to give them a good life in retirement.
Some footballers are lucky that after retiring from playing, they get other job offers from where they keep earning, it is not the for every player, not everyone is that lucky.

[Pokapoka124]

Which brings me to my point that it’s not about being a Nigerian but how well you invested during the best times of your career that will determine your success after football.

Some of these footballers have bad financial managers that do not give them proper advise on how to invest the money they earn when they are at the peak of their career. Some of these footballers made the wrong decision to put the financial decisions to make in their own hands and not in hand of professionals, some of them ended up making wrong investments and spending money on unnecessary things. Their career ended very quickly and they get into the shock that the money they have left will not be able to give them a good life in retirement.
Some footballers are lucky that after retiring from playing, they get other job offers from where they keep earning, it is not the for every player, not everyone is that lucky.

Athletes are often callous about their finances. They delegate the responsibility of handling their money to someone else either a manager or an accountant. I read an article last year that Usain Bolt lost $13 million at an investment firm, leaving only $12,000 in his bank account. This is after Usain Bolt had retired from track racing. I’m not even sure he has even recovered from the losses.
Source

[Docnaster]

Ahead of the super eagles last game for the AFCON qualifier against Libya, Eguavoen has released the team he's to work with and due to osimehn's injury, he's missed out on the team.

Here's the Full Squad List:
Goalkeepers:
Stanley Nwabali, Maduka Okoye and Amas Obasogie (Fasil Kenema SC, Ethiopia)

Defenders:
William Ekong, Bright Osayi-Samuel, Bruno Onyemaechi, Oluwasemilogo Ajayi,  Calvin Bassey, Olaoluwa Aina and Benjamin Tanimu.

Midfielders:
Wilfred Ndidi, Raphael Onyedika Alhassan Yusuf Abdullahi,
Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, Frank Onyeka and Alex Iwobi

Forward
Samuel Chukwueze, Chidera Ejuke, Ademola Lookman
Kelechi Iheanacho, Victor Boniface, Moses Simon and Taiwo Awoniyi.

Even though osimehn is out of the squared, with the current performance of victor Boniface, if he's able to replicate that in the super eagles game against Libya, it will yield a good result and give us an easy qualification to the AFCON.

Looking at the quality of players that was called up by the Super Eagles coach, I think it's very safe to say that they have all it takes to win their upcoming qualifying games. Victor Osimhen would've definitely be included in the list of he wasn't injured but because he's currently sidelined, the Galatasaray striker was left out of the squad.
I think it's time for Victor Boniface to rise up to the big occasion and replicate his impressive performances at his German club Bayer Leverkusen now that he has the chance. The Super Eagles of Nigeria in my own opinion will winning their games with this squad.

[nelson4lov]

~Snipped

Even though osimehn is out of the squared, with the current performance of victor Boniface, if he's able to replicate that in the super eagles game against Libya, it will yield a good result and give us an easy qualification to the AFCON.

Well, we'd have to keep our fingers crossed for that. There is a problem where players can perform extremely well in club-side  football but disappoint in national team. I'm not saying Boniface isn't a clinical striker but unlike Oshimen, he doesn't perform consistently in national football which is why I have more faith in Oshimen than I do in Victor Oshimen. We'll have to make-do with what we have. Like I said, Fingers crossed. Looking forward to picking up two crucial wins.

[Zigabel]

Footballers of now earn far better than footballers of those days because of the numerous opportunities that we have available now and the attention that the sport has gotten.

I have been thinking about this and while the comparison is okay, I do not think that it is a good or bad thing not that I am saying that that is what you are implying. What I mean is that if we look at it, there were just as much opportunities in those time as there are for the footballers at this time. The advancements they had then were enough for them to do what they needed to do and succeed as we those in this time. It is all different eras, and I don't think that it was a disadvantage on them. Things were relatively less expensive them and the opportunities that existed them was suited for them at that time.

If you talk about opportunities been suited for their time then I will agree with you but saying it's almost same as compared to now when we talk about opportunities then I will not agree completely because currently there are some privileges players have gotten that wasn't there from inception, now look at a situation where a player can actually be called by two different national team and they get to choose where they would want to go probably due to their dual citizenship but I don't think it was a trend much before now. There are also other players privileges we can find now that wasn't there before and lastly the earnings which I don't think is influenced by inflation as you are implying, it's mainly due to more investors finding and opportunity in the business and more and More persons finding interest so football has gotten more adoption and advancement now much more than before such that some place see it as a means to advance development and a typical example is in thw Saudi leagues.

[SatoPrincess]

Ahead of the super eagles last game for the AFCON qualifier against Libya, Eguavoen has released the team he's to work with and due to osimehn's injury, he's missed out on the team.

Here's the Full Squad List:
Goalkeepers:
Stanley Nwabali, Maduka Okoye and Amas Obasogie (Fasil Kenema SC, Ethiopia)

Defenders:
William Ekong, Bright Osayi-Samuel, Bruno Onyemaechi, Oluwasemilogo Ajayi,  Calvin Bassey, Olaoluwa Aina and Benjamin Tanimu.

Midfielders:
Wilfred Ndidi, Raphael Onyedika Alhassan Yusuf Abdullahi,
Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, Frank Onyeka and Alex Iwobi

Forward
Samuel Chukwueze, Chidera Ejuke, Ademola Lookman
Kelechi Iheanacho, Victor Boniface, Moses Simon and Taiwo Awoniyi.

Even though osimehn is out of the squared, with the current performance of victor Boniface, if he's able to replicate that in the super eagles game against Libya, it will yield a good result and give us an easy qualification to the AFCON.

I’m happy to hear Eguavoen will be taking charge of this game against Libya. I want to see an indigenous coach leading the team and winning the AFCON title. I also want to see Victor Boniface replicating his good scoring form with Leverkusen here with the Super Eagles, we need him to be at his best now in the absence of Victor Osimhen to boost our chances of qualifying for the AFCON.

[CryptopreneurBrainboss]

Footballers of now earn far better than footballers of those days because of the numerous opportunities that we have available now and the attention that the sport has gotten.

This doesn't change anything because things are more expensive now than then, you can squander you money now faster than back then so their Isn't much difference in my book.

Players had more opportunities to make a fortune back then because football was still early and you can invest in it. Take a look at the likes for David Beckham and how he has turned into a billionaire for seeing the future of football in USA.

Why didn't our own top players, invest in Africa football, I'm not saying Nigeria since our football hasn't improved but the likes of South Africa, Egypt and the rest has better local clubs that investment in them back then would had given them a fortune.

It's all about their mentality because even if players back then get paid what today players are receiving, they'll still squander the money and expect people to take care of their bills when they advance in age.

[SatoPrincess]

Footballers of now earn far better than footballers of those days because of the numerous opportunities that we have available now and the attention that the sport has gotten.

This doesn't change anything because things are more expensive now than then, you can squander you money now faster than back then so their Isn't much difference in my book.

Players had more opportunities to make a fortune back then because football was still early and you can invest in it. Take a look at the likes for David Beckham and how he has turned into a billionaire for seeing the future of football in USA.

Why didn't our own top players, invest in Africa football, I'm not saying Nigeria since our football hasn't improved but the likes of South Africa, Egypt and the rest has better local clubs that investment in them back then would had given them a fortune.

It's all about their mentality because even if players back then get paid what today players are receiving, they'll still squander the money and expect people to take care of their bills when they advance in age.

I was going to say this. The mentality is a huge part of the problem. Our ex players do not want to invest in Nigerian sports. What they don’t realize is that there is more money to be made at home than abroad. Football is more popular in Nigeria than in the USA. If Jay Jay Okocha for example had used his influence in football to bring investors into the Nigerian league, the NPFL would have improved significantly and they would have gotten a good return on their investment. It would have also improved the economy of the country, it’s a better investment than advertising for gambling casinos after retirement.

[nelson4lov]

I was going to say this. The mentality is a huge part of the problem. Our ex players do not want to invest in Nigerian sports. What they don’t realize is that there is more money to be made at home than abroad. Football is more popular in Nigeria than in the USA. If Jay Jay Okocha for example had used his influence in football to bring investors into the Nigerian league, the NPFL would have improved significantly and they would have gotten a good return on their investment. It would have also improved the economy of the country, it’s a better investment than advertising for gambling casinos after retirement.

I'd say the probable reason for the lack of interest to invest and bolster our sports might be due to the government. Such an investment, no matter how you look at it is huge and you have to be really careful about it because while you might have good intentions, government can just come in and shatter your plans. This has happened plenty of times in other sectors, I don't know if it happens in the sports sector but we can't deny the possibility.

There might be other reasons too that may not be visible to us looking at it from the outside.