The Nigerian youth system that produced Victor Osimhen who ended Nigeria’s over 20 years wait for a player from the country to be crowned Africa footballer of the year is no longer what it used to be, no thanks to former president of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Amaju Pinnick.
Before Pinnick took over as president of the NFF, Nigeria was a force to reckon with at youth levels dominating at both continental and global level. It helped the discovery and grooming of players who made the step up to the Super Eagles.
That wasn’t the case for the eight years that Pinnick was president according to a former coach of the U17 team of Nigeria, while speaking on the condition of anonymity following Osimhen’s award as Africa Footballer of the year.
” I don’t think we will have another player like Osimhen unless Ibrahim Musa Gusau the present NFF president works his socks off like the past ones before Pinnick. The eight year under Pinnick was all about the Super Eagles”, he told OwnGoalNigeria.com.
” The team that won the tournament in 2015 during his tenure was assembled before he took over and when he did the same set of players couldn’t make it to the U20 AFCON. Of course you all know the drama that happened that made them fail despite having Osimhen, Kelechi Nwakali and co.
” That same year the U17 didn’t qualify as well. Nepotism was used in the appointment of coaches and they were appointed with no salary only bonuses, making corruption the order to the day with cash for spots. Players were camped in mosquito infested camps and not for once did Pinnick visit any of the junior teams at their camp while preparing for a tournament. He didn’t care at all”, he lamented.
Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman
