Former Secretary of the Nigeria Football League Limited (NFL), Alhaji Kasali Obanoyen has blamed the organisers of the Nigerian league for the abysmal performance of the Super Eagles in international competitions lately.
Obanoyen, who was the first secretary to the late Chief Oyuiki Obaseki-led Interim Management Committee, is miffed that there is no home-based players in the Super Eagles team insisting that it would only take miracle for the national team to do well when the local players are not reckon with.
Speaking from his United States base, Obanoyen laments that the Nigerian league, ranked as the fourth strongest league in Africa under Obaseki is right now non-existent, wondering what the league managers are doing to project the league.
“Nigeria has never had it this bad,” Obanoyen said. “During Obaseki’s time we had about four local players in the Super Eagles. We had about three players from Enyima FC, Aba, led by Vincent Enyeama.
“We also had players from Ghana, Benin Republic playing in the Nigerian league and also playing for their national teams. Then, there were players who earned above N400, 000 as salary and some were signed above N2 million, especially by Governor Orji Uzor Kalu of Abia State.
“Obaseki was ready to make personal sacrifice to start the league when the Government seed money was not forth coming until there was a N35 million loan from a Good Samaritan. The loan has not been paid back till date.”
According to the former Sunshine Stars of Akure chairman, the current league managers are anonymous and bereft of ideas on how to manage the Nigerian league.
“How can Sudan send out Home-based Eagles in CHAN?” Obanoyen asked rhetorically. “It has never happened. What on earth will take a Nigeria player to Sudan or Rwanda in search of greener pasture? A club in South Africa has about eight players in Bafana Bafana whereas only one unused goalkeeper made the Eagles list for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
“I think it is high time the government beamed its searchlight on this free fall of our football in Nigeria before it is too late or we better take a two-year break from football and re-organize the direction we want to go.
“I’ve been watching some local matches here and I can tell you that there are good players who can do well in the Super Eagles.
“The NFF should look inward for coaches as no foreign coach can develop our football.”
