Former Shooting Stars Football Club of Ibadan handler, Coach Akeem Busari has called the attention of club Managers that would be representing Nigeria in continental football to go the extra mile to return Nigerian pride in the continent.
Former Bayelsa United Chief Coach stated this while hosting some Football stakeholders in his house on the best possible way to project Nigerian football better in the continent.
The Astute Tactician noted that if the poor showing continues, the values of our local-based players may decline. In his words:
“I have watched Club World Cup in the last few years and Nigerian clubs have never participated in any of the tournaments. This to other continents looks like good footballers are no longer available in Nigerian club sides.”
The CAF A License Coach who was visibly worried about the next line of action added: “Majority of Tunisian players who evicted Nigeria from the last Nation’s Cup were home-based. Egypt, Cameroon, Gabon, and Senegal also paraded a good number of homegrown athletes and made a good impact. Some of these players have been reportedly securing a nice deal in Europe but none could be seen from Nigeria as no name was heard from our home front. If care is not taken, this may get to a level where top football agents will shift attention to other African countries” The versatile gaffer submitted
“The recent poor showing by Nigerian representatives in the continent calls for urgent action and whatever the league managers and other stakeholders could do to package our boys to the World should be urgently adopted. We have good players but they are no longer making waves in continental football as we saw in the past where Rashidi Yekini, Okocha, Stephen Keshi, Patrick Pascal, Mikel Obi, Amokachi, Kanu, and other stars made it all from our leagues here. The worst is that we are gradually sliding to be depending on Europe groomed players for our national teams. Though there is nothing bad in adding them to our national teams as we see in Super Falcons and others but it must not be at the expense of our own league”
Going down the lane, Nigeria have been absent in the podium of CAF-organized tournament for like 18years.
Shooting Stars in 1976 while others include
BCC Lions Football Club (Benue Cement Company). CAF Cup 1990– Champion
Bendel Insurance Football Club ( CAF Cup 1994 – Champion)
Shooting Stars S.C. CAF Cup: 1
1992-champion
Rangers International F.C. (CAF Cup Winners 1977 – Champion)
Enyimba International F.C
CAF Champions League:
2003 – Champion (Enyimba International F.C. and 2004 – Champion
