The Super Eagles are in action in the current international window as the race for the next African Cup of Nations has started.
The country’s failure to appear at the World Cup in the past two consecutive editions remains a big setback for the team. It is, however, important to stress that the lack of transition from the age-grade to the senior rank was one of the big factors that affected the team.
The national U-17 team, the Golden Eaglets, the national U-20 team, the Flying Eagles, and the national U-23 team, the Dream Team, have been recording very poor results over the years.
The decline in fortunes of the Eaglets was the most ridiculous, as the team that has the best record in the world at the U-17 level has now missed the finals of the competition in the past three editions, if not more.
That competition produced the likes of Nwankwo Kanu, Joseph Yobo, Taye Taiwo, Mikel Obi, Celestine Babayaro, Mobi Oparaku, Nduka Ugbade, Godwin Opara and Jonathan Akpoborie in the past. Current players, including Victor Osimhen, Kelechi Iheanacho and Taiwo Awoniyi, also came up from the U-17 squad.
Sadly, the recent poor results have led to the inability of the country to bring up players to the senior level, and this has affected the Super Eagles.
The scouts in the Nigeria Football Federation and the entire technical department have failed the nation in this regard.
FIFA, the world football body, came up with the age-grade competitions to help affiliated countries plan for transition and development.
The aim is not just winning, but for the country to identify future superstars from a tender age. The NFF, over the years, turned its back on players in the age-grade teams after failure at continental level, but the truth is that all the players cannot be bad. Four or five could be picked from each set to move up and be monitored to challenge for shirts in the senior cadre.
The current Super Eagles are ageing, with top players in their late 20s and early 30s. Wilfred Ndidi (29), Alex Iwobi (30), Ademola Lookman (28), Samuel Chukwueze (27), Victor Osimhen (27), Moses Simon (30), Ola Aina (29), Semi Ajayi (32), Frank Onyeka (28) and Stanley Nwabali (30) are all in the category of players that might not be strong enough for the next World Cup.
When four years is added to the current ages of these players, it is clear that they might not be agile for the next Mundial.
Who are those expected to readily take over? The team should be a blend of young and experienced players, but many of these current players are in the later stage of their respective careers.
A similar situation is playing out in the Super Falcons. At the last Women Africa Nations Cup in Morocco, the country’s senior national women’s team, despite its pedigree on the continent, fell like a pack of cards.
The 10-time African champions lost to Malawi, Cameroon and South Africa. It was a shock to many as the Falcons will be missing out on the FIFA Women’s World Cup for the first time.
No doubt, there is a need to overhaul the Falcons. Fransisca Ordega, Osinachi Ohale, Chiwendu Ihuezo, Halimat Ayinde and Asisat Oshoola should be on their way out.
The team has young ones like Deborah Abiodun, Tosin Dimehin, and Omorinsola Babajide, but there is a need to inject more. At the last WAFCON, it was clear that the game belongs to agile youths.
For example, 80 percent of the players in the Malawi team that defeated Nigeria 3-2 in the opening match were members of the country’s U-20 team.
That is food for thought for Nigeria. That same team played against the Falconets, and they were narrowly beaten 2-1 on aggregate by Nigeria.
Only recently, the Falconets crashed out of the FIFA U-20 World Cup, but it is important to look at the team and move the best players from the team to the Super Falcons.
The Flamingos were also on duty in the WAFU B tournament, beating Ghana 4-2, Burkina Faso 2-0, and only on Thursday whipping Cote d’Ivoire 2-0. The talented ones in the team can move to the U-20 or even straight to the Super Falcons.
There must be a deliberate effort to look inward in transitioning players to the senior team rather than looking for players of Nigerian origin abroad.
Moving an age-grade player up the ladder is developmental, and chances are that such players could serve for another six years in the team.
Trying to get a quick fix here and there is a temporary measure. Coach Eric Chelle should be looking at injecting more young players into the Eagles, while the same should be done for the Falcons.
I am happy with the U-23 role the NFF gave the Eagles tactician because it will help in getting some good players to the senior team.
The technical arm of the NFF should wake up to embrace transition, and national coaches should be encouraged to work together in this regard. It is not a difficult thing to do if those at the helm of affairs are thinking right.
