Omamofe’s call highlights the urgent need for reforms in Nigerian football, both at the national and grassroots levels, as the country seeks to reclaim its place among Africa’s footballing giants.
Seasoned football administrator Samuel Columbus Omamofe has called on the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to appoint a visionary coach for the Super Eagles and exercise patience in implementing long-term development plans.
The Super Eagles are currently without a head coach following the departure of Portuguese manager Jose Peseiro, who led the team to the final of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Côte d’Ivoire.
In the interim, NFF technical director Austin Eguavoen stepped in to oversee a successful qualification campaign for the 2025 AFCON. However, both Peseiro and Eguavoen have faced criticism for their playing styles.
As the crucial final phase of the FIFA World Cup qualifiers approaches, Omamofe believes the NFF must prioritize hiring a coach with a clear vision for Nigerian football.
“Football is a game of passion, and playing for Nigeria should be seen as a great honor for any player. I remember during the days of Clemens Westerhof; we had a visionary coach who knew what he wanted for Nigerian football over five years.
“He received tremendous support from the NFF and the government. When he left, we had Bonfrere Jo and Philippe Troussier, and there was a clear transition,” Omamofe said.
“Unfortunately, in the last 10 years, the performance of the national team has declined. If I were in charge, I would appoint a coach with a 4-5 year progressive plan. Football development is like a marathon — it takes time.”
Omamofe also raised concerns about Nigerian club football, highlighting its struggles on the continental stage.
“He pointed out that only Enyimba made it to the group phase of the CAF Confederation Cup this season. However, the team sits at the bottom of their group with no wins in three matches and faces the risk of early elimination. This failure could reduce Nigeria’s continental slots from four to two for the next season.
“The government and the NFF have deviated from the structures that once sustained Nigerian football,” Omamofe added.
“We need competitions to groom players and coaches, like the Principals Cup, the Ajegunle Mock Nations Cup, and other grassroots football programs. I have always said grassroots football is the solution to Nigeria’s football challenges.”
He stressed the need for private sector involvement, lamenting the dominance of state-owned clubs in Nigeria’s domestic leagues.
“In the last 20 years, we have mainly had state-owned clubs in the Nigerian leagues. I always commend Hon. Kunle Soname for his contributions to Nigerian football. Football is a multi-billion-dollar business, and we need to encourage more private investors to come into the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL),” Omamofe concluded.
