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Nigerians pay the price for ignoring their own league

Earlier this year, Nigerian media, commentators, and football followers erupted in outrage following the March 25 World Cup qualifier in Uyo, where the Super Eagles were held to a 1-1 draw by Zimbabwe. On paper, it should have been an easy assignment. Nigeria’s squad, stacked with stars from Europe’s top leagues, was expected to sweep aside a Zimbabwean side traditionally considered lightweight. Yet the Warriors who arrived in Uyo were far from the Zimbabwe of old. The southern Africans had undergone a quiet transformation, with several players now plying their trade in big European leagues. Zimbabwe has also borrowed from West Africans by pursuing diaspora kids for its national team. The outpouring of anger in Nigeria was not surprising, given the country’s unmatched passion for football. But in hindsight, the fury was misplaced. The ongoing African Nations Championship (CHAN), currently being staged in East Africa, has brutally exposed where Nigeria’s real weakness lies. Unlike the AFCON or World Cup qualifiers, CHAN is reserved strictly for players who feature in their domestic leagues. And Nigeria has fared disastrously, crashing out after two successive defeats—1-0 to Senegal and 4-0 to Sudan. Their final group match against Congo-Brazzaville on August 19 is a dead rubber, with the Super Eagles already eliminated. The lesson is clear: Nigeria’s league is simply too weak to sustain a competitive national team structure. Long before CHAN laid it bare, the decline of Nigerian club football was evident. The country’s clubs have become invisible in the advanced stages of CAF competitions. The last Nigerian side to command continental respect was Enyimba, and that was years ago. Since then, South African, Central African, and even East African clubs, have pulled ahead to challenge the North African domination. While mismanagement and corruption within the football system are always cited as culprits, ordinary Nigerians also shoulder part of the blame. The obsession with the English Premier League and other European competitions has drained local football of attention, revenue, and prestige. Stadiums remain half-empty, clubs struggle to attract sponsorship, and promising players lack the competitive environment to flourish at home. If Nigerian fans redirected even half of their passion to their own league, the results would be transformative. Stronger domestic clubs would attract investment, create jobs, and nurture talent that could feed directly into the Super Eagles setup. More importantly, Nigeria would rely less on scouring the globe for players of Nigerian descent and instead develop world-class talent within its borders.
Until that shift happens, Nigeria will continue to punch below its weight in African football. This week the Nigerian Premier Football League kicks off for the 2025/2026 season - with new champions Remo Stars hosting Rivers United on Friday in Ikenne, Ogun state, for the opening match. Hopefully, the season start will also mark the start of a new attitude by Nigerians towards their own league. And it's no rocket science, Naija guys and gals, just show the NPFL more love than any other league in the world. Finidi George coaches Rivers; what more would people want to appreciate that charity begins at home!

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