*SLIDING* *TACKLES*
" *MASTER-PLAN* *FOR* *THE* *SUPER* *EAGLES* *OF* *NIGERIA* "
Yes! The Super Eagles of Nigeria, formerly known as the "Red Devil's" and the "Green Eagles", is the Senior National Men Football Team of the Nation. The Super Eagles according to the Ratings of World Football Governing body, FIFA; is One of the Top National Teams of Africa Football. Nigeria has Won the African Nations Cup (AFCON), 3 Times. The then Green Eagles Won the AFCON for the Nation in 1980 on Home soil, Lagos; while the Super Eagles Dispensation,Won the AFCON, 2 Times in 1994 in Tunisia and 2013 in South Africa. The Super Eagles have also Qualified for the FIFA Senior World on 5 Occasions in 1994; 1998; 2002; 2010 and 2018.
The Super Eagles has however witnessed a serious noticeable Drop in Form since the inept non Contributing State FA Chairmen NFF Board headed by Amaju Pinnick illegally stumbled into Office in 2014; wrecking Maximum Destruction on All Strata of the Nigeria Football lndustry, most especially, the Super Eagles. Yes! Since the Pinnick non Stakeholding State FA Chairmen NFF Board bulldozed into our Football House (NFF Board); our Super Eagles has not known Any Stability or Peace; and the Performance of the Super Eagles which used to be Predictable with Magnificent Displays; has Dipped so badly into the current Embarrassing Level of Unpredictability.
Yes! Ever since the Pinnick non Shareholding State FA Chairmen NFF Board mounted the saddle of the Nigeria Football Administration in 2014; the Super Eagles has Scandalously Drop Form both in General Performance and Playing Attitude. The once Sparkling Superlative Performance of the Super Eagles at lnternational Football Competitions, has seriously gone Downhill and the once trusted Super Eagles of Nigeria who was hitherto the "Cynosure of All Eyes" in the Global Football Community; has suddenly become an "Eyesore". Since Pinnick and his non Contributing Henchmen came into Office; our dear Super Eagles who was once Voted One of the Best Entertaining Teams of the World by FIFA, has Dismally Switched on to become a "Pack The Bus" Team without any Flair, Finesse or Cohesion.
The terrible State of the Super Eagles, can be Better expressed from the current Reality that the Super Eagles couldn't Qualify for the Last Edition of the FIFA Senior World Cup Championships held in Qatar 2022; and the Super Eagles are again almost out of the Next World Cup Championships coming up in Canada, Mexico and the USA in 2026. What a sad Story from the Situation Room of our Super Eagles who used to Fly with Class and Pride as the "King of the Birds". But the most Worrisome, is that the Super Eagles are not even in the mood to Change it's current Lethargic Performance and things are indeed looking very bleak for the Future of the Super Eagles who continue to Flounder and Blunder with each Passing Match. The Truth is that our dear Super Eagles is in a State of Total Confusion and Anarchy with no definable Flight Destination and Direction.
Nigerians are indeed very Worried with the sudden turn in the Fortunes of the Super Eagles. The Crescendo of the Frustrations of the Nation reached it's Zenith with the present recent Woeful Displays of the Super Eagles at the ongoing Qualifier Matches for the 2026 World Cup; where inspite of being luckily placed in Group C (widely regarded as the Weakest Group of the Africa World Cup Qualifiers); the Super Eagles are completely hounded flat footed and rooted at a most Embarrassing 5th Position out of 6 Group mates. *SLIDING* *TACKLES* is in total accord with the Deep consternation of Nigerians, and honestly believe that the Super Eagles need total Overhaul and Re-engineering both in the General Mentality of the Nigeria Football Managers and the Super Eagles Organisational Structure.
*SLIDING* *TACKLES* in line with it's avowed Patriotic Pledge to the Nigeria Football lndustry and Stakeholders and the Nigerian People; to always proffer Practical Workable and Clear Solutions to the Problems of Nigeria Football; do have the Honour and Privilege to present this Deeply thought " *MASTER-PLAN* *FOR* *THE* *SUPER* *EAGLES* " which if assiduously implemented; shall " *GET* *OUR* *SUPER* *EAGLES* ; *WORKING* *AGAIN* "
*MASTER-PLAN* *FOR* *THE* *SUPER* *EAGLES* *OF* *NIGERIA*
1. *DEMOCRATISE* *AND* *RESET* *THE* *NFF* *BOARD*
The Problem of the Super Eagles is domiciled with the present Un-statutory Setting of the Board of the NFF which is populated by State FA Chairmen who are Persons that are supposed to be "Ordinary Messengers" of the Nigeria Football lndustry; but Criminally manouvered themselves into "lllegal Managers" of our Football lndustry. The current Mis-setting of the NFF Board with the State FA Chairmen who do not Represent Any Football Group or Constituency or Make Any Financial Contribution to the Nigeria Football lndustry; on the Driving Seat; is the Major Reason for the Disastrous Dwindling Performance of the Super Eagles.
Yes! It's the unreasonable Policies of the Clueless non Contributing State FA Chairmen NFF Board anchored on the Hiring of the Foreign Coaches (at the Expense of the lndigenious Coaches) for the Super Eagles; the Wholesale lnvitation of Foreign based Players for the Super Eagles; and the Total Exclusion of the Home based Players from the Super Eagles; that's Solely Responsible for the present Worrisome Status of the Super Eagles. So, if the NFF Board is Democratised and Reset with the "Real Owners of Nigeria Football lndustry" ie the Club Owners, Players, Coaches and Referees; in the Driver's Seat! The above self centered and greedy Policies of the non Stakeholding State FA Chairmen NFF Board; will automatically be upturned with the lndigenious Coaches and our Home based Players having their Roles in the Super Eagles as it used to be in the years of our Football Glories.
2. *RESET* *THE* *NFF* *TECHNICAL* *COMMITTEE/DEPARTMENT*
The current Technical Committee and Department imposed on Nigeria Football by the non Shareholding State FA Chairmen NFF Board peopled by their "Family and Friends Social Club" Members; are another Major Cause of the Downfall of the Super Eagles. The present NFF Technical Committee and Department led by a non Contributing State FA Chairmen NFF Board Member and his Deputy, who are not Technical People; do not have the Competence and Capacity to oversee the Technical Sector of the Nigeria Football lndustry and Deliver a Super Eagles that would Flourish on the lnternational Football scene. The Other Members of the NFF Technical Committee are Retired Footballers with little Technical Knowledge and Expertise.
The NFF and the Super Eagles, need a Technical Committee and Department composed of Sound Experienced Coaches and Football Stakeholders who would move into the Grassroots area of Nigeria Football to oversee and regulate what the Football Leagues are doing in the various States of the Federation. The Current Situation of the NFF Technical Committee and Department sitting tight in their cozy Offices and lnviting Only Foreign based Players who they watch on DSTV; cannot get the Nation, a Super Eagles that will Win Trophies for the Nation and make Nigerians, happy.
3. *STOP* *THE* *HIRING* *OF* *FOREIGN* *COACHES*
The Biggest Policy Blunder of the Self serving non Contributing State FA Chairmen NFF Board that led to the Present Embarrassing Situation of the Super Eagles and Crash out of World Football reckoning; is the Senseless Policy rooted on the unreasonable and unpatriotic Foreign Colonial Mentality that Any Foreign Coach is Better than our Best lndigenious Coach. This stupid and highly insultive Mentality and Policy, anchored on the Criminal Greedy "Foreign Coach Salary's Kickback" and"Foreign based Players lnvitation To Super Eagles" Racquets of the NFF Cabal Business; has produced the "Worst Super Eagles" in the History of Nigeria Football under Different "Journeymen Foreign Coaches".
The Super Eagles, honestly do not need a Foreign Coach because the Foreign Coach doesn't know the Nigerian Local Football Terrain and therefore cannot Develop and Deliver a "Winning Super Eagles who must have a Significant Dose of Home based Players. The Foreign Coach for the Super Eagles, has proved an unmitigated Disaster for the Nation because the Foreign Coach doesn't stay in Nigeria to monitor what's happening inside our Football Leagues to Discover and Spot the Best of the Home based Players who will partner with the Foreign based Players to get the Nation, a Formidable Super Eagles. So, to "Get The Super Eagles; Working Again"; the NFF should stop the Unfounded and Wasteful Hiring of Foreign Coaches for the Super Eagles.
4. *HIRE* *INDIGENOUS* *COACHES*
A Sound, lnternationally Exposed and Experienced Disciplined lndigenious Coach (who has Coached especially the U17 Golden Eaglets); is what is needed as the Super Eagles Coach, to "Get The Super Eagles; Working Again"! And if the lndigenious Coach has Won lnternational Football Laurels for the Nation; the Best for the Super Eagles and the Nation. Yes! The lndigenious Coach is the Coach to get the Super Eagles out of it's Present Unpalatable Doldrums, because the lndigenious Coach knows the Nigerian Football Terrain; our Football Leagues and Players, and would most importantly, live and stay inside Nigeria to Monitor what's going on and Develop our Home Football which is the Only Way to Build a "Super" Super Eagles.
A Former lndigenious Coach who has handled the Golden Eaglets and Won Big with the Golden Eaglets; is Recommended as the Coach to Deliver a Winning Super Eagles, because what the Super Eagles needs is a Coach who will gather the Best Home based Players in the Nigeria Football Leagues and guide them how to Play National Team Football; just like is done with the Golden Eaglets where the Best of the Nigeria Grassroots U17 Players, are gathered together and Coached to Win the FIFA U17 World Cup! The Super Eagles doesn't need a Foreign Coach who will Only "Assemble" Foreign based Players from Different Football Systems and Culture and who don't have Enough Blending time in the Super Eagles. It's the Present Unsavoury System of "Assemblage of Foreign based Players" from Different Football Backgrounds that is the Reason for the Super Eagles Dramatic Fall from "Grace To Grass".
5. *STOP* *WHOLESALE* *INFLUX* *OF* *FOREIGN* *BASED* *PLAYERS*
Yes! It's noticeably clear that since the lndiscriminate and Unchecked lnflux of Wholesale Foreign based Players from Several Football Backgrounds into the Super Eagles which started from the Visionless Amaju Pinnick non Contributing State FA Chairmen NFF Board, more than 10 years ago! The Super Eagles has been Floundering and Wandering Wingless and Aimlessly in the Football Wilderness; Winning "No Tea Cup" to show for the Billions of Nigerians Tax payers Money. The Wholesale Foreign based Players current Setting of the Super Eagles; cannot get the Nation; a Winning Super Eagles because African Football requires a Good Dosage of African Home based Players to get Desired Results.
The Super Eagles cannot Work with Only the Foreign based Players most of who are not accustomed to the African Football Physical Style of Play. And coupled with the Stark Reality that even the Best of our Foreign based Players are not Picked as a Result of the ignoble "Foreign based Players lnvitation To Super Eagles" Racqueteering Business of the NFF Cabal who invite Only Foreign based Players that pay their Huge Ransom for lnvitation; the Super Eagles can never Flourish under the Present Criminal "Wholesale Foreign based Players Super Eagles" Dispensation.
6. *INVOLVE* *THE* *HOME* *BASED* *PLAYERS*
There are no two ways around it, that we need the Significant lnvolvement of our Home based Players inside Any "Serious Workable Medication" to revive the Super Eagles who is presently in a State of Coma. Yes! All the Football Glories and Trophies, the Nigerian Nation has Won under the Super Eagles, have been Achieved with the lnvolvement of our Home based Players. Yes! Both the 1994 AFCON and the 2013 AFCON Trophies were Won with the Home based Players as part of the Super Eagles Squad. The Super Eagles have not Won Anything since the Pinnick NFF Board dictatorially introduce the Wholesale Foreign based Players Policy and totally Shut out the Home based Players; because the Home based Players who form the crucial Depth in the Super Eagles; have been Unduly Chased Away from their Super Eagles for the justifiable reasons.
So, to "Get The Super Eagles; Working Again"; we need to go back to our Past Winning Formula for the Super Eagles which is the "Mix of both the Home based Players and the Foreign based Players". Once, we revert to that Winning Combination; and under a Sound, lnternationally Exposed and Experienced lndigenious Coach who can Discover and Spot the Best of our Home based Players; the Super Eagles will sure Fly High Once Again.
7. *STANDBY* " *HOME* *BASED* *SUPER* *EAGLES*
It's again True that in the Past before the unfortunate Advent of the hugely Uneventful Pinnick State FA Chairmen NFF Board; we used to have a "STANDBY HOME BASED SUPER EAGLES" Selected from the Best Home Players of the Nigeria Football Leagues. The STANDBY HOME BASED SUPER EAGLES, were picked and Camped for long periods even when the various Football Leagues were still in season. The STANDBY HOME BASED SUPER EAGLES provided a "Ready Back up" for the Super Eagles and brought Stiff Competition for Super Eagles Shirts with the Foreign based Players. The STANDBY HOME BASED SUPER EAGLES also provided Stiff Competition among the Home based Players and improved the Standard of our Home Nigeria Football Leagues; as the Home based Players josstled for the Attention of the Super Eagles Handlers for Call ups to the STANDBY SUPER EAGLES.
So, to "Get The Super Eagles; Working Again"; we need to get back to the STANDBY HOME BASED SUPER EAGLES Format. The STANDBY HOME BASED SUPER EAGLES, will bring out the Lacking Dedication and Patriotism from both our Foreign based Players and our Home based Players; and improve the Overall Performance of the Super Eagles. The STANDBY HOME BASED SUPER EAGLES, will most importantly, save the Nation, a lot of Money hitherto wasted on Useless Foreign based Players drafted into the Super Eagles not on Merit but through the ignoble "Foreign based Players lnvitation To Super Eagles" Racquet.
8. *NFF* ! *LISTEN* *TO* *NIGERIANS*
Yes! The Lowest Quality of the non Shareholding State FA Chairmen NFF Board especially led by the present lbrahim Gusau State FA Chairmen NFF Board! is in their obscene Arrogance and Gross Disrespect to Nigerians and the Entire Nation at large. The Unwarranted Total Disrespect to the Nation can be Best guaged from the Abject Refusal of the Gusau non Contributing State FA Chairmen NFF Board to listen to the clear Demand and Wishes of Nigerians on whose behalf; the Gusau NFF Board; are Managing our Nigeria Football lndustry. Examples of the Exhibition of Gross Arrogance and Disrespect to the Nation by the non Achieving Gusau NFF Board can be clearly seen in their Constant Quest for Foreign Coaches for the Super Eagles; Refusal to Appoint the Nation's clear Choice for Super Eagles Coach (World Cup Winning Coach Emmanuel Amunike); Wholesale lmportation of Foreign based Players to the Super Eagles; and the Total Exclusion of the Home based Players from the Super Eagles.
And, it's the stubborn and nonsensical Refusal and Failure of both the Pinnick/Gusau non Contributing State FA Chairmen NFF Boards; to Listen to the Voice and Wishes of Nigerians especially the Nigeria Football Stakeholders; that brought the Super Eagles to the present Disgraceful Situation. Yes! Because, if the Clueless External lnvading Pinnick/Gusau non Contributing State FA Chairmen NFF Boards; had Only Listened to the Voice of Nigerians, and Employed lndigenious Coach, Amunike; Reduced the lnflux of Wholesale Foreign based Players to the Super Eagles; and lnvolved the Home based Players in the Super Eagles; the Super Eagles cannot be in this Abysmal and Despicable Unacceptable Situation. So, to "Get The Super Eagles; Working Again"! The NFF Board must as a Matter of Strict Official Policy and Compulsion; Learn to Listen to the Voice and Wishes of the Nigerian People; who Owns both the Super Eagles and Nigeria Football.
*CONCLUSION*
Finally, it's important to note that this Particular Article by *SLIDING* *TACKLES* on how to GET OUR SUPER EAGLES; WORKING AGAIN; is again our Modest Fulfillment of our Patriotic Pledge not Only to Torchlight the Evils and the Evil Doers bedeviling our Nigeria Football lndustry; but to also Proffer Simple Workable Solutions to the Problems of our Football lndustry. This MASTER-PLAN FOR OUR SUPER EAGLES; was Developed from our over 30 years of serious Top Engagement in the Nigeria Football lndustry as a Club Owner, NFF Administrator, Major Leagues Administrator and Foremost Football Lawyer and Sports Professional Background.
It's this Vast Wealth of Experience and Exposure in the Nigeria Football lndustry that gave us the Right and lmpetus to Design this ...........
" *MASTER-PLAN* ! " *TO* *GET* *OUR* *SUPER* *EAGLES* ; *WORKING* *AGAIN* "!
*Barrister* lyke *lgbokwe* ( *Torchlight* *Of* *Nigeria* *Football* )
*WhatsApp* : *09136715922*
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