Former Nigerian international Mobi Oparaku has expressed his deep disappointment over the current state of Nigerian football, attributing the issues to poor leadership and mismanagement by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).
In a conversation with Brila.net, Oparaku criticized the NFF for failing to address pressing issues within Nigerian football, leading to a string of poor performances and internal conflicts.
Oparaku, who played a significant role in Nigerian football history, including the golden era of the 1996 Olympics, did not mince words as he laid the blame for the current turmoil squarely at the feet of the NFF.
He believes that the organization’s lack of interest in prioritizing the nation’s football interests is to blame for the ongoing struggles and setbacks.
“What is happening now with Finidi George and the NFF? The NFF knew this was going to happen. They refused to acknowledge the issues within Nigerian football because they don’t believe in us.
“They won’t openly admit it, but behind closed doors, they’ve shown that they don’t have faith in Nigerian talents. When they face us, they say they want us involved, but their actions say otherwise. It’s all about selfish interests,” Oparaku stated.
Oparaku’s comments came in the wake of Finidi George’s resignation as head coach of the Super Eagles, a situation that many fans and analysts see as symptomatic of deeper issues within the administration of Nigerian football.
Super Eagles head coach, Finidi George in conversation with his assistants.
According to Oparaku, the reluctance to support local talent and the preference for foreign coaches and interests is a significant part of the problem.
Photo | Twitter (thenff)
“The way they think is not aligned with the needs of Nigerians. They only consider the people they want to bring in because there’s something to gain from it.
“They don’t even think about us or the future of Nigerian football. If they did, they would be focusing on how we can get to the World Cup. Their selfishness is so deep-rooted that they forget they are Nigerians when making these decisions,” he continued.
Oparaku further highlighted the lack of planning and execution by the NFF, which he believes has led to a lack of confidence and direction within the coaching staff and the team as a whole.
“Before they assembled Finidi’s coaching crew, everyone was reluctant. No one wanted to do the right thing because they knew they had already failed.
“They wanted to shift the blame onto Finidi. I hope they realize the consequences when we miss out on the next World Cup,” he lamented.
Nigeria’s head coach Finidi George. (Photo by ISSOUF SANOGO/AFP via Getty Images)
