Coach of Wikki Tourist of Bauchi, Abdu Maikaba, has advised the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to set up a formidable home-based squad in order to avoid another disappointing outing at the African Nations Championship (CHAN).
Maikaba, a former national youth team assistant coach, said Nigeria’s struggles at CHAN competitions have been a direct result of poor preparation and the late assembly of players from the local league.
Read Also: FIFA U-20 World Cup Chile 2025™: Udoh Urges U-20 To Address Goal-Scoring Weakness Ahead Of World Cup
“In every CHAN tournament we have attended, our biggest weakness has been preparation,” Maikaba said. “You cannot expect players who have never trained together to perform well if you only assemble them a few weeks before the competition. Football doesn’t work like that.”
He argued that the solution is for the NFF to create a permanent pool of the best players in the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) and ensure they meet regularly for training and friendly games. “If we can identify the top players in the league and allow them to train from time to time under one system, then we will build understanding, chemistry and confidence. That is how to get results at CHAN,” he explained.
Maikaba stressed that waiting until the eve of a tournament to call up players has proven ineffective. “That last-minute approach is the reason we have not been able to get consistent results,” he continued. “Other countries prepare well ahead, and that is why they look more organized than us at CHAN.”
The Wikki Tourist coach added that investing in a strong home-based national team will not only benefit CHAN but also strengthen Nigeria’s overall football structure. “These players can also graduate to the main Super Eagles when they are ready. That way, we create a system that is sustainable for the future,” Maikaba said.
He concluded by urging the federation to act fast. “If we don’t change the way we prepare, we will continue to see the same poor results. Nigeria has the talent, but we must be deliberate in building a real home-based team,” Maikaba warned.
 to establish a more stable, formidable home-){kind=link}