Former Super Eagles midfielder and current Chelsea scout Seyi Olofinjana has hit out at the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), blaming poor leadership and lack of structure for the team’s recent struggles under different managers, Footynaija.com reports.
Speaking as a guest on DSTV’s Monday Night Football, Olofinjana argued that the problem with the national team goes far beyond the players on the pitch. He noted that many of these players are performing brilliantly for their clubs across Europe, yet struggle to reproduce the same form when they wear the green and white shirt.
According to him, it would be unfair to single out the players for criticism when the system behind them continues to fail.
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“It is difficult to separate the administrators and blame the players,” Olofinjana said, as reported by Vanguard.
“These are players doing excellent things for their clubs across Europe, but when they come to play in Africa, the challenge becomes different.”
The former Stoke City man explained that the frequent changes in management have robbed the Super Eagles of consistency and identity.
“Different managers come in with different ideas, but they don’t always get the support they need,” he added.
“The constant hiring and firing of coaches is destabilising. Managers keep coming and going, and that’s not healthy for the team.”
Olofinjana, who featured for Nigeria at the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations, further stressed that the absence of a clear football philosophy has left the team directionless.
“From where I stand, the bigger problem is lack of structure and identity. When you watch the Super Eagles these days, you see a team without a clear pattern,” he said.
He called for the NFF to back current coach Eric Chelle with full support, describing Nigeria as “one of the best footballing nations in Africa” that deserves stability and respect at the top level.
“Without structure, you can’t build,” he concluded. “Fans end up frustrated, managers walk away, and players struggle to deliver. Until there’s stability and a clear football philosophy, the Super Eagles will continue to wobble.”
