Growing up, my passion for sports was natural and unrestrained. Football was my primary game, but I enjoyed dabbling in others like table tennis, volleyball, and badminton. I even gave handball a short try, though it only took one ball to the head to retire me from that field. I played football throughout school and even during my youth service in old Anambra State, before finally hanging up my boots.

On Parental Influence and Career in Sports

Interestingly, my parents never tried to steer me away from sports, even though I didn’t see football as a long-term career. They knew where to find me—always on the field. My father, at one point, jokingly suggested I drop out to focus solely on football. Despite my love for the game, my path never seemed to veer into professional sports.

The Super Eagles Then and Now

It’s hard not to compare today’s Super Eagles with the golden days. The teams of the past had results and achievements to back them up—winning the 1980 African Cup of Nations, qualifying for the World Cup in 1994, and capturing the 1994 Nations Cup in Tunisia. Unfortunately, the current generation of Eagles has yet to reach that level. We have immensely talented players like Victor Osimhen and Asisat Oshoala, but we’re still waiting for the team as a whole to make its mark. I remain hopeful, though, that this generation can achieve something memorable.

Celebrating Nigerian Excellence: Osimhen and Oshoala’s Wins

When Osimhen and Oshoala won the African Player of the Year awards, it was a deeply gratifying moment. For a while, Nigerian football has been overshadowed by other nations like Senegal and Morocco. But that night in Morocco, Nigeria was back in the spotlight, and it was thrilling. My hope is that these individual achievements will spark team success, leading to triumph at the upcoming AFCON for both the Super Eagles and Super Falcons.

Prospects for the Upcoming AFCON

Nigeria has a strong historical pedigree in the AFCON, winning it three times, but history alone won’t help us. Equatorial Guinea and Guinea-Bissau, though less historically successful, are formidable opponents, consistently qualifying in recent tournaments. We have to be prepared for stiff competition, especially from host Ivory Coast, who’ve always been a tough match for us.

Homegrown Talent: NPFL Players and the Super Eagles

The debate about the inclusion of home-based players in the Super Eagles has been long-standing. In the days of Clemens Westerhof, we saw a mix, but these days, we’ve struggled to integrate NPFL players effectively. Stephen Keshi’s 2013 victory with home-based players is a bright spot, but recent years have shown that qualifying for the African Nations Championship has been difficult for NPFL players. Ultimately, the team coach should have the freedom to choose the best players, regardless of where they play, as long as they can deliver results.

Final Thoughts on Nigerian Sports

Football remains a passion, but I’m equally invested in seeing other Nigerian sports succeed. We need to continue nurturing talent at all levels to ensure Nigeria remains competitive on the global stage. With the right focus and support, I believe Nigerian sports will thrive in the coming years.