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By Rasaq Oborien
Super Eagles legend Mutiu Adepoju has blamed Nigeria’s falling football standards on bad policies and poor management of our male age-grade teams.
Nigeria, a football powerhouse in Africa has in the last few years witnessed a sudden decline in its quality of football, as it can no longer qualify for major CAF male football events, let alone win championships.
Its West African neighbor, Senegal is making news globally and regionally for its dynamic football.
They now become the first African country to simultaneously hold the continent’s five most prestigious prizes in male football, since winning the 2021 African Cup of Nations beating Egypt, in a penalty shootout in Cameroon.
This is along with the 2022 Africa Beach Soccer Cup of Nations. The West Africans had won the Africa Cup of Nations (CHAN) title in February in Algiers just as they won the U-20 AFCON title in Egypt in March.
In May, Senegal Young Cubs won the 2023 AFCON U-17 Championship in Algiers for a complete sweep of football titles on the continent.
Speaking with The Sun Sports, the ‘Head Master’ and member of the Oyo State Football Federation on the decline of the round leather game in Nigeria.
“Congratulations to the Senegalese FA as they have got it right by putting in place developmental football policies and programs, so it’s no magic that they have dominated the male football championships in Africa.
“For Nigeria, our football has deteriorated over the years due to the wrong policies put in place.
“However, Nigeria can reclaim its lost glory and match Senegal’s feat in African football, if the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) put in place developmental football policies and strategies.
“It’s good the attention has shifted to developing our domestic league with this kind of programme like the Naija Super 8, which is meant to reignite the passion and followership for club football in the country.”
