Assistant Coach of Africano FC, Olukoya Olusanya Adekunle, has called on the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to embark on sweeping reforms aimed at reviving the country’s youth football structure.
In a chat with our correspondent, he emphasized that the current challenges facing the nation’s under-age teams — including the CHAN Eagles, Flying Eagles, Golden Eaglets, and Flamingos — stem from years of neglect, poor planning, and lack of continuity.
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According to Olukoya, Nigeria’s football has lost direction due to a combination of administrative lapses and weak developmental systems. “We have enormous talent across every part of the country, but the problem is that we don’t have a strong system to discover, develop, and sustain them,” he said.
“Our scouting network is poor, and age irregularities have become a recurring issue that keeps denying genuine young players the chance to grow properly.”
He further expressed concern over the frequent changes in coaching personnel and the absence of a long-term developmental plan.
“You can’t build consistency when coaches are changed after every tournament,” he noted. “We need a clear football philosophy and a well-documented structure that every coach coming in can follow.”
Olukoya also highlighted poor funding, inadequate preparation, and lack of exposure to quality international friendlies as major reasons Nigeria’s youth teams struggle to perform at the global level. “Many of these teams go into major tournaments underprepared,” he lamented.
“They need proper camping, quality friendly games, and the right support to build confidence and chemistry.”
To fix these problems, he urged the NFF to develop a comprehensive national football development blueprint focusing on grassroots talent identification, proper age verification, and smooth player transition to senior levels.
“If we start early and plan properly, the results will speak for themselves,” he added. “We must also invest in our coaches — give them the right training and allow them to stay long enough to build something meaningful.”
Speaking ahead of the World Cup playoff against Gabon, Olukoya advised the NFF to ensure early preparation, merit-based selection, and a united team spirit. “The Super Eagles have what it takes,” he said. “With discipline, focus, and tactical awareness, Nigeria can overcome any opponent.”
He concluded by reaffirming his belief in Nigeria’s football potential. “Nigeria should be leading Africa,” Olukoya stated. “We have the players, the passion, and the fans — all we need now is structure and serious leadership to make it happen.”
