Anambra FA chairman and former Super Eagles international, Chikelue Iloenyosi, has emphasized the significance of nurturing grassroots football in Nigeria, citing it as the foundation for producing talent for national teams.
He revealed that the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) has instructed FA chairmen to prioritize youth teams and organize more youth tournaments across states.
Read Also: NOC Showers Accolades On Team Nigeria’s Athletes
Iloenyosi stressed that investing in grassroots football is crucial for the development of players at all levels, including age-grade competitions. He emphasized the role of grassroots football in providing a pipeline of talent for the national teams, from the under-17 level all the way to the senior Super Eagles squad.
In his statement, Chikelue Iloenyosi highlighted the directive from the NFF to FA chairmen to establish well-structured youth teams, ensuring a continuous influx of talent into the national setup. He expressed optimism about the positive impact of this initiative on Nigerian football, aligning with the developmental goals outlined by FIFA.
“We cannot do anything. The grassroots football is the most important thing because we came from grassroots football,” Iloenyosi stated. “So NFF have already directed off the FA chairman to make sure they have a youth team that is organized so that they can be inviting players from there and everything.”
The remarks from Chikelue Iloenyosi underscore the collective effort to strengthen football at its grassroots, aiming to cultivate a rich pool of talent that can represent Nigeria with distinction on the international stage.
