Former Chairman of the Technical Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation, Chris Green, has advised the federation to carefully evaluate all available options before committing the Nigeria national football team to participate in the planned four-nation invitational tournament in Jordan.
Green acknowledged that participating in the tournament could offer the national team valuable opportunities to build cohesion and experiment with tactical approaches ahead of future competitions.
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According to him, friendly tournaments often provide coaches with the chance to give players more minutes together on the pitch.
“It would have been a good opportunity for the players to spend more time together and build understanding,” Green said.
The former NFF official noted that such competitions are usually beneficial for testing different strategies and assessing how players respond under competitive conditions.
“It also allows the coaching crew to try different game plans and evaluate the team,” he added.
However, Green expressed concern about the current security situation in parts of the Middle East, warning that the federation must prioritise the safety of players and officials above sporting considerations.
“The current situation in the Middle East does not allow for unnecessary risks,” he explained.
He advised the football authorities to take a cautious approach and carefully weigh the potential benefits of participation against the possible dangers posed by the regional instability.
“The federation must be circumspect in making this decision,” Green stressed.
Green emphasised that while international exposure is important for the development of the national team, security concerns should remain the top priority.
“Football is important, but the safety of players and officials must always come first,” he said.
He concluded by urging the federation to thoroughly assess the situation before taking a final decision.
“They must consider all factors before committing the team to travel,” Green stated
