For sustainable success in Nigeria men’s football, the domestic league must also grow and be credible says former Super Eagles Coach Sunday Oliseh.
Oliseh himself a product of the Nigerian league in his formative years, he went on to earn 54 caps for Nigeria.
When he emerged on the global scene the midfielder went played for some of Europe’s biggest sides include Ajax, Juventus and Dortmund.
He was a member of the Super Eagles squad that clinched the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations and also qualified the Country for its first World Cup appearance.
However, the team’s fortunes has dwindled in recent times, failing to reach back to back AFCON tournaments in 2015 and 2017.
It also lost some senior players and the transition process of rebuilding has been slow and tedious.
Oliseh himself came on board in this period, but his tenure was brief.
His predecessor Gernot Rohr has enjoyed a decent run working with young talented prospects, but mostly recruited from abroad, because the Nigerian leagues are inconsistent Rohr has claimed.
But the former Super Eagles captain insists the team may not necessarily have problems qualifying for international competitions, however he doubts the sustainability.
“Well, qualifying for the World Cup in a way should be our birthright, likewise the Nations Cup,” said the former Eagles captain.
“But, I keep saying that the only thing that can get our football back on track, is to put our league in order, it’s simple.
“People like Uche Ikechukwu, Myself and Finidi and others if you asked what made us, We’ll tell you it’s the Nigerian league; not the European league.”
“So, as long as we don’t get the league in order, we will only just have epileptic success.
“It is difficult for us to even aspire to get the stars or manage stars if we can’t manage our own league.”
“I see Nigerian football going to the top, the top most top, once we put our league in order at least if it goes on for three to five years, uninterrupted and with credible results, we’ll fly again.”
The post Nigeria Football needs Credible NPFL to Achieve Real Success – Oliseh appeared first onCornerstone News Nigeria.
