There is no denying that Nigeria’s Super Eagles (B squad) had a disastrous 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN) campaign, which left many wondering about the fundamentals and direction of the country’s football system.
The team’s misfortune started with their opening match, which ended in a close 0-1 defeat to host Senegal. It was followed by an ugly 4-0 thrashing by Sudan, a nation that has been in a civil war since April 2023 after a bloody power struggle broke out between its army and a potent paramilitary group.
Their aspirations were dashed even with their 2-0 victory over Congo in their last CHAN group match that ensured their elimination from the group stage which also enraged all of the nation’s sports stakeholders.
Following their most recent game, Nigerians, particularly soccer supporters and fans, began to express their dissatisfaction with the Super Eagles’ (B squad) performance. Some were criticizing the team and their coaches, while others were scolding the nation’s football organization for failing to perform what is expected of them.
It was a fact that the CHAN players were entirely recruited from the local league, Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) have certainly exposed the deeply engrained and deficiencies of our domestic league.
It is also a truth that the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL), a domestic tournament that supplies players for CHAN, has been denigrated and mistreated by the NFF for decades, which explains why the CHAN players who were selected exclusively from this league are unable to perform better.
With the NFF and its officials functioning as monarchs in the temple that is putting our sport on its knees, many people view the Premier League and other competitions as a conduit for corruption.
As a result, the NFF bears full responsibility for the scathing criticisms and complaints that CHAN’s poor performance provoked throughout the country.
As a result, analysts labeled the team’s campaign a complete failure, pointing out both the NPFL’s inadequacies and the NFF’s sluggishness.
All of the soccer fans across the country must be furious because our team’s elimination from the 2024 CHAN group stage was definitely a disaster and a great shame.
It is unfortunate that Nigeria, with its illustrious football history and its potential to produce players and stars worldwide, is unable to disparage countries such as Senegal and Sudan.
I want to trust Coach Eric Chelle when he says that his lineup for the African Nations Championship includes the best players from the Nigeria Premier Football League, even if the team didn’t make it past the first round.
Coach Chelle defended his choices, emphasizing that the squad selected to represent the nation was the best in the league and that the selection was made in good faith and on the basis of merit.
To me, the coach and the players are not responsible for Nigeria’s soccer problem; rather, it is the people who forced themselves on us as the country’s football administrators or leaders, despite the fact that they had nothing to offer.
The lack of the genuine and kind people that genuinely cared about the game’s growth as president and board members is why I perceive the issue, not the team’s readiness, preparedness, or financial status.
This is due to the fact that people who are currently pretending to be president and members of our football governing body have no place there because they are just concerned with advancing their own personal agendas and don’t actually care about the development of the game.
That is why we will continue to be experiencing this kind of disillusionment unless the president and members of the Glass House are the right individuals.
Therefore, I believe that all NFF members should resign and focus on their areas of expertise because they lack integrity and have no place in the organization.
Nigeria cannot be an exception to the norm that only current, retired athletes or individuals with extensive sports education and unflinching interest are eligible to administer sports.
Because they have played football and know what it takes to be a player, our PhDs and sports professors, along with former footballers like the Segun Adegbamis, Daniel Okochas, Kanu Nwankwos, and Dahiru Sadis, among others, should be in charge of the NFF.
I believe that asking the present NFF members to depart and choose serious-minded individuals to run our soccer is the only way to revitalize it and make it function the same way it does in other nations.
Without competent and seasoned experts or those who genuinely care about the growth of soccer leading its operations, I doubt that football will not advance in our nation.
I could remember that former minister of sports, Mr. Eno, had urged the NFF to broaden their elected congress so as to accept more interests, serious and dedicated people but they turned deaf ears to his orders.
That same action demonstrated that the NFF has no intention of enhancing soccer in the country and is only interested in maintaining their influence and authority inside the federation.
Since the introduction of the CHAN for local league players, Nigeria has done appallingly, according to history.
As I stated above, many people are dissatisfied with the outcome since the Super Eagles B’s performance at CHAN 2024 was not only poor, but it also reflected poorly on the ideals of the nation’s local league.
I recalled that because of the NFF’s lack of commitment, Nigeria, a country with a wealth of skill, had missed several previous CHAN appearances and had never won it.
Unfortunately, the reverse is true, and our league is clearly stagnating rather than growing, which explains why it isn’t producing skill and quality that can compete.
Since most of the teams in our competitions are government-sponsored, I believe that the main reason for our misery is a lack of private engagement.
To me, the NFF will be held accountable for our bad performance in the CHAN for the following reasons:
1. Poor camp planning and insufficient preparation time
CHAN preparation began too late, according to several coaches and observers, and the camps were too brief to develop tactics and unity. Coach Eric Chelle specifically pointed the finger at insufficient preparation time.
2. Dubious selection procedures and non-merit selections
Selection selections were criticized by former internationals and columnists for choosing players based on their reputation or club politics rather than their current form, which led to a lack of balance and left superior NPFL players behind.
3. Poor strategy and a disjointed game plan
Poor game plans, substitutions, and defensive organization were highlighted in match reports and tactical analysis (e.g., the huge loss to Sudan). The team, according to analysts, lacked a distinct identity and match management.
4. Inadequate domestic league systems that compromise preparedness
Expanded coverage attributes CHAN’s shortcomings to NPFL problems, including as scheduling conflicts, inadequate club preparation, little funding, and subpar facilities, which lower players’ conditioning and match readiness.
5. Lack of funds, administration, and logistics
Poor logistical preparation, erratic medical and support personnel, and a lack of scouting resources were cited by commentators as issues that exacerbate tactical and selection mistakes.
6. Leadership and psychological deficiencies
many allusions to inadequate on-field leadership, low self-esteem, and an incapacity to handle pressure during important games—often the result of hasty preparation and a poor camp culture.
And unless we take the necessary action or follow the example set by others, our league will remain as it is, with terrible and disastrous consequences.
Here are some recommendations in case we want to make any adjustments to our local league to do better in the next CHAN.
A. Begin CHAN preparing as soon as possible and approach it as a year-long undertaking.
We should begin scouting and putting together a temporary team nine to twelve months prior to the competition. We ought to do quick camps and regular check-ins throughout the domestic season as well.
Pre-tournament training should also be scheduled for at least 4–6 weeks, with phases including fitness, tactics, friendlies, and match management. To compete, preparation must begin earlier.
B. Make the selection process clear and only based on merit.
Public disclosure of the selection criteria (form, minutes played, fitness testing, and job appropriateness) is necessary. We should reduce politics in order to improve team quality.
C. Increase match readiness through tactical practice and targeted friendlies
We should schedule at least three to five friendly matches against reputable African sides, preferably ones that are comparable to our expected opponents in terms of performance.
In order to correct any persistent tactical errors, such as press traps, defensive space, and set pieces, we need also employ video reviews and analytics.
D. Match the requirements of the national team with the NPFL schedule and club collaboration.
The NFF and NPFL should agree on timeframes, guaranteed release terms, and medical/fitness reports to assure that players arrive at camp in the best possible condition.
Provide incentives like match money and development cash to teams to encourage them to release players ahead of schedule for CHAN build-up.
E. Make investments in scouting, sports science, and technical personnel
A permanent Technical Director for home-based football should be appointed or empowered to maintain continuity over CHAN cycles. Add a small analytics/scouting team that concentrates on NPFL monitoring, as well as sports science staff (psychologists, nutritionists, and physiotherapists).
F. Develop mental toughness and leadership
Before doing leadership seminars and scenario training (holding leads, red cards, and penalties), choose the squad’s three to four leaders in advance. A sport psychologist should be there to assist athletes in strengthening their resilience for crucial games.
G. Measurable KPIs and an open post-tournament review
Each CHAN cycle ends with a public after-action review that includes an appraisal of what worked and what didn’t, along with a 12-month roadmap with Key Performance Indicator (KPIs) (win %, goals conceded, minutes of top-scouted players played, friendly outcomes).
Finally, the primary reasons for Nigeria’s CHAN failures are not NPFL proficiency alone but rather systematic preparation and governance problems. We must thus endeavor to resolve any problems that impede our progress.
