African Football Discussion Thread: {Current Topic: 👉 NFF Incompetence}

[hmbdofficial]

I don't blame the players so much. Almost every industry in Nigeria has been infected with corrupt practices. Currently, the corruption going on in NFF is not different from what our politicians are doing here in Nigeria. Players welfare is very important if we want the best from the boys but it's unfortunate they don't care. The money is there but they keep delaying the salary of the coach Eric Chile. As we speak, there are unpaid wages spanning multiple months and even players bonuses are still unpaid. How do you expect maximum output from these players including the coaching staff. Until these issues are fixed I can't fully blame the boys or the coach for their performance.

I think you’re making sense and I can also agree that the NFF has not be doing things right from scouting player to inviting the once abroad to come and represent the country in international duties. I also want to add that our domestic leagues in Nigeria is also affected by the politics around football. Football use to be game of talent, and if you’re talented you could grow and the world will eventually get to see you, but unfortunately it doesn’t work like that in most part of Africa. politics have taken over the whole thing because people realises the opportunity in the game. competency is now overlooked and its who you know that matters. if you watch our local league, the number of talented you’ll find across many teams will just leave you in awe. Until we remove politics, favoritism from the game, we will never get it right in Africa and Nigeria in particular.

[Doan9269]

I don't think there is a team or country that does not have any challenges in one way or the other, but some are being managed effectively to the extender it does not escalate to the entire people and their supporters, there are other complicated teams and countries whose performance are below average and yet they are doing better because we could not know the exactly situation of what is happening from within their players and the team needs, it all depends on how everything is being handled and taken of utmost priority.

[Ashawowo(OS)]

I don't think there is a team or country that does not have any challenges in one way or the other, but some are being managed effectively to the extender it does not escalate to the entire people and their supporters, there are other complicated teams and countries whose performance are below average and yet they are doing better because we could not know the exactly situation of what is happening from within their players and the team needs, it all depends on how everything is being handled and taken of utmost priority.

You know why the case of Nigeria is different? They've all the money to restructure their sports sector to be one of the best but corruption has eaten deep into the leaderships. Of course there are poor countries like Senegal, Cameroon, Zimbabwe and the rest of them and it is understandable if their country leagues are below standard, but you might even see some of them even doing better than Nigeria. The sports sector here has been neglected for a long time, and we are suffering the effects.

Nigeria has a very large population of sports lovers that sports should be one of the economy drivers of this country, if only the leaders were less dependent on oil and less corrupt, they could've harnessed the sports sector and the potentials it holds.

[CryptSafe]

I don't think there is a team or country that does not have any challenges in one way or the other, but some are being managed effectively to the extender it does not escalate to the entire people and their supporters, there are other complicated teams and countries whose performance are below average and yet they are doing better because we could not know the exactly situation of what is happening from within their players and the team needs, it all depends on how everything is being handled and taken of utmost priority.

You are right with your postulation, I believe some teams with issues even worst than our national team were able to resolve it and are doing ok and perfectly well. Some does not have upto half of our team squad, they are doing perfectly well in the tournament because their football body and management are in consonant with the goals and objectives of the national team.
So far, in African national teams, no team is as sophisticated as our national team but yet it is difficult to qualify for anything just because of poor management from the football governing body which doesn't speak good of them.

[Uhwuchukwu53]

I don't think there is a team or country that does not have any challenges in one way or the other, but some are being managed effectively to the extender it does not escalate to the entire people and their supporters, there are other complicated teams and countries whose performance are below average and yet they are doing better because we could not know the exactly situation of what is happening from within their players and the team needs, it all depends on how everything is being handled and taken of utmost priority.

Yes human is full of challenges, many arguing not that there total absence of challenges in outside Africa team but the management problem has always been the setbacks, mostly when it has to do with leadership who are not ready to hear the voice of the masses or seek other measure to put the challenges to bearest minimum, for instance reason some team or club are sold out is managerial issues, serious for digressing, when a management identify what would hindered the progress of the team tackling it is a necessity not been the course of the challenges like embezzlement of the fund that would have help to grow the team as well failing to pay salaries, even buy required equipment that will help to improve the team training, Africa team would have been doing better than what they today if they managed their challenge as others do all over the world.

[Davidvictorson]

So far, in African national teams, no team is as sophisticated as our national team but yet it is difficult to qualify for anything just because of poor management from the football governing body which doesn't speak good of them.

You used a term that is hard for me to interprete. What do you mean by sophistication?
Please there are many teams in Africa that is more sophisticated than our national team.
Do we even have a team? Many years ago when Okocha, Kanu, and the others were still actively playing that was the last time we truly had a team.
Right now, I don't think we do. Even if the management issues are fixed, we are still not number one. We can be in top ten but definitely not at the main spot.

[Agbe]

So far, in African national teams, no team is as sophisticated as our national team but yet it is difficult to qualify for anything just because of poor management from the football governing body which doesn't speak good of them.

You used a term that is hard for me to interprete. What do you mean by sophistication?
Please there are many teams in Africa that is more sophisticated than our national team.
Do we even have a team? Many years ago when Okocha, Kanu, and the others were still actively playing that was the last time we truly had a team.
Right now, I don't think we do. Even if the management issues are fixed, we are still not number one. We can be in top ten but definitely not at the main spot.

Nigeria has a good team but the problem we have is the head coaches. Okocha, and  Kanu time, the club were facing the same problem. At that time the players were very good but they were suffering international referees problem and bad coaches coming to this era now, the referee problem has been drastically reduced but the problem of bad coach is still persist and once the national team has a good Coach,  the football narrative will change in the country. In every era of football, there are good players. Now it is the duty of the coach to watch the lower leagues to select good players to join the National Team if there is no good players and also Nigerian players in diaspora should be brought back to the team to grace it.

As for me Nigeria has a good team but it's the structure of the team that is affecting the players. The structure from the top to bottom need to be restructured and Once the structure is good. Everything will work well in the team.

[Xackie]

I don't think there is a team or country that does not have any challenges in one way or the other, but some are being managed effectively to the extender it does not escalate to the entire people and their supporters, there are other complicated teams and countries whose performance are below average and yet they are doing better because we could not know the exactly situation of what is happening from within their players and the team needs, it all depends on how everything is being handled and taken of utmost priority.

You are right with your postulation, I believe some teams with issues even worst than our national team were able to resolve it and are doing ok and perfectly well. Some does not have upto half of our team squad, they are doing perfectly well in the tournament because their football body and management are in consonant with the goals and objectives of the national team.
So far, in African national teams, no team is as sophisticated as our national team but yet it is difficult to qualify for anything just because of poor management from the football governing body which doesn't speak good of them.

Apart from Victor Osimhen, Calvin bassey,Iwobi and Lookman , the rest of our players are mid. Alot of them are not even performing well in their respective clubs.  Now you said Nigeria team is the most sophisticated, let me list the teams that are currently better than us ; Morocco, Ivory coast ,Senegal and even south Africa.  So please let's not overrate our team. Regardless of the poor management this sophisticated team of yours should have at least made it to the World Cup or win the Afcon . Oh wait the best team was eliminated by Ghana at our home in 2022 and Dr Congo in 2026. To me we have overrated our national team, it needs to undergo proper restructuring so as the NFF management too.

[Cryptoprincess101]

So far, in African national teams, no team is as sophisticated as our national team but yet it is difficult to qualify for anything just because of poor management from the football governing body which doesn't speak good of them.

You used a term that is hard for me to interprete. What do you mean by sophistication?
Please there are many teams in Africa that is more sophisticated than our national team.
Do we even have a team? Many years ago when Okocha, Kanu, and the others were still actively playing that was the last time we truly had a team.
Right now, I don't think we do. Even if the management issues are fixed, we are still not number one. We can be in top ten but definitely not at the main spot.

To the best of my knowledge, Nigerian national team has never been ranked number 1 in African football and it really troubles me that despite the investment in Nigerian football, there's nothing to show for it. The first problem is the structure of internal football in Nigeria. What is the standard of the Nigeria professional league, how is their stadiums and how are matches officiated? Until we begin to ask the right questions and also give attention to areas that are critical, the National team may not experience transformation even if the management problems are sorted out. The players also have a role to play because if everything is being put in place and the players still continue with same mentality it will still look like no work was done. If you look at the structure of top African team like Morocco you will understand why Nigeria is lagging behind.

[Obim34]

Nigeria has a good team but the problem we have is the head coaches.

Eric Chelle has no involvement with all that is happening in the Super Eagles team. Let the players take accountability for their performance when the outcome isn't reasonable enough. In the game before the friendly against Russia, we lost three to nil against the host country, Guinea-Bissau. The culprit wasn't our manager, it was the players, I see no fault with Eric Chelle, by the way, that was our first big loss since he took over.

[CryptSafe]

So far, in African national teams, no team is as sophisticated as our national team but yet it is difficult to qualify for anything just because of poor management from the football governing body which doesn't speak good of them.

You used a term that is hard for me to interprete. What do you mean by sophistication?
Please there are many teams in Africa that is more sophisticated than our national team.
Do we even have a team? Many years ago when Okocha, Kanu, and the others were still actively playing that was the last time we truly had a team.
Right now, I don't think we do. Even if the management issues are fixed, we are still not number one. We can be in top ten but definitely not at the main spot.

Nigeria has a good team but the problem we have is the head coaches. Okocha, and  Kanu time, the club were facing the same problem. At that time the players were very good but they were suffering international referees problem and bad coaches coming to this era now, the referee problem has been drastically reduced but the problem of bad coach is still persist and once the national team has a good Coach,  the football narrative will change in the country. In every era of football, there are good players. Now it is the duty of the coach to watch the lower leagues to select good players to join the National Team if there is no good players and also Nigerian players in diaspora should be brought back to the team to grace it.

As for me Nigeria has a good team but it's the structure of the team that is affecting the players. The structure from the top to bottom need to be restructured and Once the structure is good. Everything will work well in the team.

Nigeria has a good team but the management including the football governing body seems to be the issue facing the dwindling state of the national team. It is so bad now that it has affected the female team as well. Just imagine our key players were ignored from the CAF award list .
I don't think the coach is the issue though because he is really trying his best to reform the team but there is limit to which he can do which means to some extent he can not do some certain things without seeking permission from the football body of the nation and we all know the current state of their affairs which is not welcoming.

[CryptopreneurBrainboss]

I don't think there is a team or country that does not have any challenges in one way or the other, but some are being managed effectively to the extender it does not escalate to the entire people and their supporters, there are other complicated teams and countries whose performance are below average and yet they are doing better because we could not know the exactly situation of what is happening from within their players and the team needs, it all depends on how everything is being handled and taken of utmost priority.

When the leadership's is not functioning well it affects the whole team and this reflects in the performance, our performance has been showing that there's problem at home and until we solve the problem, I don't see the boys picking up any form. We can't be losing as we're doing and playing as bad as we do. The losses aren't mistakes that you can say we played well but lost instead we get out played and still get beaten well. After we solve the problem of the NFF, we also need new players in the squard because this current one can't take us anywhere. Watch our games then observe when Osimhen isn't playing and you can't notice any zeal from the players as they all play like they have achieved something with the national team when we're just wasting a talented generation of quality players.

[BIT-BENDER]

Nigeria has a good team but the management including the football governing body seems to be the issue facing the dwindling state of the national team. It is so bad now that it has affected the female team as well. Just imagine our key players were ignored from the CAF award list .
I don't think the coach is the issue though because he is really trying his best to reform the team but there is limit to which he can do which means to some extent he can not do some certain things without seeking permission from the football body of the nation and we all know the current state of their affairs which is not welcoming.

Nigeria has a good team but are the team willing to play for Nigeria, the management(Coaches) are the worst in the world but the federation in charge of Nigerian football is extremely bad and corrupt.
But about the CAF award list there is an obvious winner and that's Hakimi.
I like as you agreed the coach isn't the issue but you also need to put blames on the Nigerian players because they haven't played well for Nigeria.

[Davidvictorson]

Nigeria has a good team but are the team willing to play for Nigeria, the management(Coaches) are the worst in the world but the federation in charge of Nigerian football is extremely bad and corrupt.
But about the CAF award list there is an obvious winner and that's Hakimi.
I like as you agreed the coach isn't the issue but you also need to put blames on the Nigerian players because they haven't played well for Nigeria.

In my estimation, we need a new crop of players.
The current ones have lost motivation and the drive to fully represent the national team. And I do not blame them, they have been betrayed over and over and can't trust the leadership anymore.
We still have a long way to go and I think that it will take many years for that to happen. We should start looking to the U-17 team for these new crop of player.

[Sammysmart001]

The current ones have lost motivation and the drive to fully represent the national team. And I do not blame them, they have been betrayed over and over and can't trust the leadership anymore.
We still have a long way to go and I think that it will take many years for that to happen. We should start looking to the U-17 team for these new crop of player.

This just the very exact root of the rot. The passion of a player dies fast when a football federation treats its players like an afterthought.
We don’t expect a player to bleed on the pitch for a badge when they have to fight tooth and nail to just get their basic bonuses paid on time.

NFF needs to do the needful, until they cleans house and build a professional environment, if not having to change coaches every few month it just as compare to to a desk chain on a sinking ship

[Sobz]

I don't think there is a team or country that does not have any challenges in one way or the other, but some are being managed effectively to the extender it does not escalate to the entire people and their supporters, there are other complicated teams and countries whose performance are below average and yet they are doing better because we could not know the exactly situation of what is happening from within their players and the team needs, it all depends on how everything is being handled and taken of utmost priority.

Thats true.  Every team has it own challenge but the problem is when the challenge of the team is being neglected. When the challenge the team is facing is not giving attention it makes the situation to become worse but when the challenge is being managed it makes the team to be able to bounce back. Teams thst are hsving serious challenge is because the management is not putting their best they can to make the team become better.

[Spaceman1000$]

So far, in African national teams, no team is as sophisticated as our national team but yet it is difficult to qualify for anything just because of poor management from the football governing body which doesn't speak good of them.

You used a term that is hard for me to interprete. What do you mean by sophistication?
Please there are many teams in Africa that is more sophisticated than our national team.
Do we even have a team? Many years ago when Okocha, Kanu, and the others were still actively playing that was the last time we truly had a team.
Right now, I don't think we do. Even if the management issues are fixed, we are still not number one. We can be in top ten but definitely not at the main spot.

Nigeria has a good team but the problem we have is the head coaches. Okocha, and  Kanu time, the club were facing the same problem. At that time the players were very good but they were suffering international referees problem and bad coaches coming to this era now, the referee problem has been drastically reduced but the problem of bad coach is still persist and once the national team has a good Coach,  the football narrative will change in the country. In every era of football, there are good players. Now it is the duty of the coach to watch the lower leagues to select good players to join the National Team if there is no good players and also Nigerian players in diaspora should be brought back to the team to grace it.

As for me Nigeria has a good team but it's the structure of the team that is affecting the players. The structure from the top to bottom need to be restructured and Once the structure is good. Everything will work well in the team.

We can attain this height if we start recruiting local coaches, a foreign coach will find it very difficult to navigate through the local leagues in searching for local talents that he would like to invite to the national team except maybe he sends scout to the various divisions in the local League searching for talented young players that will come to the national team.

JJ okocha and Kanu all started from the local League, the neglect of the raw talents we have in the local League is one of the problems we are having, I remember the likes of ikechukwu uche and his brother, those guys started from abia State, and they rose through the rank to the national team and they did excellently well.

[SatoPrincess]

This is a consequence of the bad decisions made by the Nigeria Football Federation. Nowadays, when a football federation makes sound decisions, its players tend to become the center of global attention. Because they failed to qualify for the World Cup, even though players like Victor Osimhen are performing well in the Turkish league, his name is still being overlooked in favor of players who compete in leagues with a lower level of competitiveness than the Turkish league.

I might be wrong, but I think Victor Osimhen should have been on this list. Did CAF base the selection only on performance in the recent World Cup? I thought players could be selected based on club football. Victor had an outstanding season where he led Galatasaray to win the Turkish League. As you said, it might be because the Turkish League is not highly rated.

Achraf Hakimi deserves to win it for the second time. He won Ligue 1 and the Champions League with his club, PSG, and Morocco made it to the quarter-finals in the World Cup.

I wouldn't blame the Nigeria Football Federation for the absence of Nigerian players. Most Nigerian players are not performing well even in their clubs.

I don’t think any Super Eagles player deserve to be on the list not even Victor Osimhen. Where did Nigeria finish in the AFCON and World Cup qualification? This is the Young Player of The Year Award, you can’t include players from a team that failed to qualify for World Cup. I’m happy Osimhen is not on the list, no player should be getting individual recognition when the team performance is this poor.

[ArabBTC]

In my estimation, we need a new crop of players.
The current ones have lost motivation and the drive to fully represent the national team. And I do not blame them, they have been betrayed over and over and can't trust the leadership anymore.
We still have a long way to go and I think that it will take many years for that to happen. We should start looking to the U-17 team for these new crop of player.

You nailed it, same thing i have always suggested, the truth is that at this point, regardless of any intervention done by the government to improve the team it might not work because a lot of players have been already polluted by past experiences, there is already a flow of negative energy in the team, if the sports sector will work again in Nigeria a lot of overhauling must first take place, most of the players have lost zeal and motivation, Africans especially Nigerians feels so comfortable when they hit a milestone, they don’t put in more pressure to break new records, that is what is happening to the Nigerian players, most have already been bought by big clubs which to some of them is the pinnacle of the career, they are not ready again to put any effort, that is why they are lackadaisical in their matches, so instead of trying to continue dragging them to play well, it is better they start scouting for younger players with zeal that will replace them.