In an insightful conversation on Brila FM, former Denmark coach Flemming Serritslev shared his views on Nigerian football, stating the need for better coaching education to advance the sport.

Reflecting on his time as technical advisor to Nasarawa United in 2008 and his observations from a recent visit to Nigeria, Serritslev noted, “I feel that at least the development in Nigerian football has not been as good as it was before.”

He pointed out that while Nigeria continues to produce talented players, the number of those reaching top-tier football has declined compared to the late 1990s.

Serritslev identified the lack of structured coach education as a contributing factor.

“When there’s a lack of coach education, you will also see it in your talent development,” he explained.

Drawing comparisons, Serritslev described how Denmark, with a population of just six million, leverages extensive coach education and grassroots programs, including training for parents.

“It might sound strange, but we have coaching courses for parents… so that they can do the most necessary when handling young children,” he said.

This foundation, according to Serritslev, is key to sustaining talent development and creating strong national teams.

He concluded by advocating for a similar emphasis on structured coaching pathways in Nigeria to better harness its vast pool of footballing talent.