A popular African proverb says that “a bad workman quarrels with his tools”.
This means that an incompetent person who does his work poorly will usually blame it on someone or anything except himself.

This is the case with the managers of Nigeria’s most popular sport football, the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF. How else can one explain the constant changes of handlers of the senior men’s football team, the Super Eagles.

Between the last AFCON in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire in February, 2024, the NFF has used four coaches to prosecute both the 2025 AFCON qualifiers as well as the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.

Nigerians would recall that the NFF hesitated to renew the contract of Portuguese coach, Jose Peseiro but eventually did after he accepted a pay cut.

They gave him a target to get to the semi finals in the AFCON but he surpassed it and only lost the trophy narrowly to the host, Cote d’Ivoire. Peseiro asked for a pay rise but his employers, perpetually broke, couldn’t afford it and he took a walk.

In his place, the NFF hurriedly put his Nigerian assistant and former international, Finidi George, who had not handled even the junior teams before and therefore lacked the experience at that level.

Just two competitive games, a draw and a loss, the panicky NFF started looking for a ‘world class’ coach to boss Finidi. The Bayelsa-born former Ajax Amsterdam winger couldn’t accept that and threw in the towel.

Augustine Eguavoen, who heads the technical department of the federation was drafted to replace Finidi in interim capacity.

Eguavoen secured the AFCON ticket with a game to spare, so he gambled with some new players in the last match against Rwanda in Uyo. The Super Eagles lost it and again the NFF began the search for another world class coach.

Nigerians were taken aback when the choice turned out to be a French-Malian, Eric Sekou Chelle, whose only pedigree was taking Mali to the quarter-finals of the same AFCON where the Super Eagles lost the final narrowly.

When Nigerians raised their voice against the choice, NFF said they hired him because he’s known for attacking football.


A popular African proverb says that “a bad workman quarrels with his tools”.
This means that an incompetent person who does his work poorly will usually blame it on someone or anything except himself.

This is the case with the managers of Nigeria’s most popular sport football, the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF. How else can one explain the constant changes of handlers of the senior men’s football team, the Super Eagles.

Between the last AFCON in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire in February, 2024, the NFF has used four coaches to prosecute both the 2025 AFCON qualifiers as well as the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.

Nigerians would recall that the NFF hesitated to renew the contract of Portuguese coach, Jose Peseiro but eventually did after he accepted a pay cut.

They gave him a target to get to the semi finals in the AFCON but he surpassed it and only lost the trophy narrowly to the host, Cote d’Ivoire. Peseiro asked for a pay rise but his employers, perpetually broke, couldn’t afford it and he took a walk.

In his place, the NFF hurriedly put his Nigerian assistant and former international, Finidi George, who had not handled even the junior teams before and therefore lacked the experience at that level.

Just two competitive games, a draw and a loss, the panicky NFF started looking for a ‘world class’ coach to boss Finidi. The Bayelsa-born former Ajax Amsterdam winger couldn’t accept that and threw in the towel.

Augustine Eguavoen, who heads the technical department of the federation was drafted to replace Finidi in interim capacity.

Eguavoen secured the AFCON ticket with a game to spare, so he gambled with some new players in the last match against Rwanda in Uyo. The Super Eagles lost it and again the NFF began the search for another world class coach.

Nigerians were taken aback when the choice turned out to be a French-Malian, Eric Sekou Chelle, whose only pedigree was taking Mali to the quarter-finals of the same AFCON where the Super Eagles lost the final narrowly.

When Nigerians raised their voice against the choice, NFF said they hired him because he’s known for attacking football.

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Even some of their town criers wrote off Finidi and Eguavoen, saying that Chelle was a good choice because he is a better match reader.

Their drums became louder after Chelle won his first match as the Super Eagles gaffer courtesy of Victor Osimhen who was returning to the World Cup qualifiers after missing the earlier ones.

The NFF may have been thumping their chest that they have finally put their critics to shame and looked forward to consolidating their chances with an expected massacre of the Warriors of Zimbabwe at the Godswill Akpabio stadium in Uyo last Tuesday.

After a hard fought first half where the Super Eagles missed a lot of chances, they eventually scored a goal through Osimhen’s diving header.

The clock was ticking for the blast of the final whistle and Chelle did the unthinkable, brought in an attacker to score more goals instead of beefing up the defence looking fatigued to protect the lone goal and secure maximum points.

The Zimbabwe equaliser poured cold water on the NFF high spirit and since that match ended till now their officials haven’t uttered a single word about 1-1 draw..

Some Incurable optimists still believe it is not yet over. To them, there is still a window for qualification through the play-off, which however, appears more herculean.

A silly mistake from lack of concentration by the defenders as well as improper substitutions have now put the team in a quagmire.

If only the players and NFF officials know that football serves as the only soothing balm for Nigerians who are angry over the harsh economy, they will ensure they play their respective parts well.

Nigerians invest a lot of emotions watching and supporting the Super Eagles and those who have fragile hearts have developed heart problems leading to either stroke or death in some cases.

Recall that some Nigerians died as a result of the performance of the Super Eagles during the last AFCON in Cote d’Ivoire.

Cairo Ojougboh, a known All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain reportedly slumped and died in his house in Abuja while watching the epic match between the Super Eagles and South Africa.

His heart couldn’t take the decision to deny Nigeria the goal scored by Osimhen and instead a penalty was immediately awarded to Bafana Bafana for an infringement at the Nigerian end detected by VAR.

There was also one Alhaji Ayuba Abdullahi, the Deputy Bursar of Kwara State University Malete, who died at a viewing centre in Sango area of the State.

It was during the same match against South Africa. He was said to have BP problem and couldn’t stand the penalty shoot-out which the Super Eagles eventually won.

What about the case of one Chief Osondu Nwoye, an Igbo businessman, he also died while watching the match at the Peace Stadium of Bouaké.

He slumped and died inside the stadium as a result of the shock of seeing Osimhen’s goal cancelled.

Mikail Osundiji, a sales representative reportedly died watching the match at a football viewing center in Abeokuta.

A member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) serving in Adamawa, simply identified as Samuel, also died. His showed how Nigerians take the Super Eagles and football. He died, this time not because of a loss or penalty awarded against Nigeria but while celebrating the penalty victory over South Africa at a sports viewing centre.

So the Super Eagles and NFF officials should always remember that Nigerians whose taxes are used to fund their activities also invest their emotions into it and must act to soothe their nerves always.


https://www.vanguardngr.com/2025/03/nff-goes-dumb-by-patrick-omorodion/