Former Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) top scorer Chibuzor Ozurumba has expressed concern over the declining quality and output of strikers in the domestic league, attributing the trend to a combination of early player departures and evolving dynamics in modern football.
Ozorumba, who enjoyed a distinguished playing career with Enyimba International F.C.and remains one of the league’s most respected forwards, reflected on a time when the NPFL was home to clinical and creative goal scorers capable of consistently delivering in front of goal.
“We used to have solid strikers in the league with superb qualities—true goal poachers who were both creative and clinical,” he said. “But those kinds of players are missing in the league these days.”
According to the former Golden Boot winner, the exodus of top attacking talents to foreign leagues has significantly affected the quality of strikers available in the NPFL.
He noted that modern football pathways, aided by improved player representation and scouting networks, now make it easier for emerging talents to secure moves abroad at earlier stages of their careers.
“Good strikers now have their eyes abroad, and many of the best have already left. The game has changed with better agency structures, allowing players to move with minimal exposure compared to the past,” Ozorumba explained.
He further emphasized that in earlier eras, players were more inclined to fully develop their craft within the domestic league, often showcasing a wider range of skills and a deeper commitment to their clubs before seeking opportunities overseas.
With the current pool of strikers largely made up of developing or average talents, Ozurumba believes coaches across the league must intensify their efforts to nurture and refine attacking players.
“The coaches have more work to do with the average ones remaining in the league. We may not see strikers like we had in the past anytime soon unless there is deliberate development,” he added.
His observations come at a time when the NPFL Golden Boot race highlights a relatively modest scoring chart.
With five matches remaining in the 2025/2026 season, leading scorers such as Godwin Obaje and Joseph Arumala are tied on 11 goals, underlining the broader issue of low scoring returns among forwards in the league.
Beyond his analysis of strikers, Ozurumba also weighed in on the struggles of his former club, expressing confidence that Enyimba International F.C. will overcome their current challenges.
“Enyimba will escape, I believe in the club’s structure and history.
They have always set high standards in recruitment, but this season the level dropped, and the consequences are evident. I’m confident they will return to signing top-quality players next season and restore their old glory,” he stated.
Turning his attention to the title race, Ozurumba praised the consistency of Finidi George of Rivers United F.C. and Fidelis Ilechukwu of Rangers International F.C., highlighting their impressive performances over recent seasons.
With both teams locked on 55 points at the top of the table and five games left, he anticipates a thrilling conclusion to the campaign.
“Rangers and Rivers United have shown remarkable consistency over the last few seasons. With five matches to go and both teams level on points, it will come down to character, tactical discipline, and who wants it more. The final stretch will bring out the very best in both coaches.”
As the NPFL season approaches its climax, Ozurumba’s reflections underscore broader structural and developmental challenges within Nigerian football, particularly the urgent need to rediscover and nurture the next generation of prolific goal scorers.
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