Former member of the Technical Committee of the Nigerian Football Federation, NFF, Austel Elumelu, has raised concerns about the state of football in Nigeria over the past 12 months, stating that the sport has not met expectations in 2024.

This year has been a mixed bag for Nigeria, with the national team reaching the AFCON final, yet struggling to maintain momentum and secure wins, leaving them in a precarious position in the World Cup qualifiers.

In an interview with Brila.net while reviewing the year, Elumelu expressed his worry that despite players performing well at their respective clubs, they have been unable to replicate that success on the international stage.

He called on the NFF leadership to address these pressing issues, emphasizing that securing a World Cup ticket remains a top priority.

“We have not done too well. I cannot say for sure what’s going on in the FA. But with the fillers, the leadership needs to consult more and listen to its subordinates,” he stated.

“While we have been able to qualify for the AFCON and we need to basically win all our matches to be able to qualify for the World Cup.

That is not to say that we have done well. It surprises me that our players are making waves in their various clubs.

And when they come here, the issue of coordination, the issue of being played in the right position, because the problem, we really need to get our acts together.”

Elumelu added that any future coach must analyze the players’ performances in their club matches before making selections, stating,

“Our coaches, whoever is appointed, should not just work without review of the various games that the boys have played and how they are being played overseas in their various clubs before you begin to play them so that you don’t play players’ out of position.”

With the stakes high for Nigeria’s football future, Elumelu’s insights highlight the urgent need for improvements at all levels of the national setup.