Former Super Eagles striker Julius Aghahowa has voiced concerns over the NFF’s decision to hire a foreign technical adviser, citing financial and developmental issues.

In a conversation with Brila.net, Aghahowa highlighted the NFF’s historical struggles with paying foreign coaches and suggested that hiring a Nigerian coach would be more beneficial for the country’s football ecosystem.

“I think it’s what they want. So they will usually go for what they want, irrespective of what people will see or people’s opinion will be. But me personally, I feel we have gone past that. Right now we should be looking inward,” the former Striker remarked.

Aghahowa expressed skepticism over the financial sustainability of hiring a foreign coach, given the NFF’s past difficulties in meeting contractual obligations.

Julius Aghahowa. Credit: DarrinBraybrook /Allsport

He emphasized the importance of investing in local talent and coaching to build a stronger national team and a more competitive domestic league.

“First of all, we don’t have money to pay foreign coaches right now. I remember how they struggled in the past.

“Few technical advice that we got and still we should look inward and give our homegrown coaches the opportunity to coach the national team. But the long term, if you look at the national team in the past couple of years, we don’t really have the homegrown players included in the call-up,” Aghahowa noted.

Aghahowa argued that appointing a Nigerian coach would provide a platform for homegrown players to showcase their talents and secure places in the national team, ultimately strengthening the NPFL.

Jose Peseiro during the CAF Africa Cup of Nations. (Photo by Ulrik Pedersen/DeFodi Images via Getty Images)

“So, but I feel that if we have our homegrown coaches, that should be an opportunity for the homegrown players to be invited to the national team, so we can make our league stronger,” he concluded.

The NFF’s decision to hire a foreign technical adviser has sparked debate among football enthusiasts and former players, with many advocating for a greater focus on nurturing local talent and coaches.

It is still unclear which direction the NFF will take concerning the employment of the new expatriate technical adviser, the NFF council board members remain tight lipped about the situation.