NIS DG Shaibu lambasts NFF over dwindling Federation Cup quality in Nigeria

Following the President/Federation Cup final in Asaba, Delta state , the Director General and Chief Executive Officer, National Institute for Sports (NFF), Comrade Philip Shaibu, has expressed reservations over the quality of football displayed by both Ikorodu FC and El-Kanemi warriors, calling for improved standards in the Nigerian football system.

Football in Nigeria is administered by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF)

Speaking with sports journalists shortly after the final whistle, Shaibu said the performance witnessed during the final fell short of the competitiveness and quality traditionally associated with the Nigeria FA Cup, stressing that more must be done to raise the standard of the domestic game.

“I must confess that the quality of football I watched today between Ikorodu FC and El-Kanemi lacked the Nigerian quality of football we demand. It was a zero-quality game, to say the least,” Shaibu said.

He acknowledged the quality of players but noted that both teams struggled with consistency, organisation, and tactical discipline.

“The inconsistencies are not what Nigerian football wants now. We know how competitive the FA Cup is in Nigeria. The pitch is beautiful, organisation beautiful, but both teams lacked consistency. No quality, no depth, not even two minutes of coordinated passes from both teams,” he added.

The football enthusiast also questioned the readiness of some local players to represent Nigeria at the highest level, saying the performances witnessed did not provide enough evidence of players capable of competing with international standards.

“I could barely point out a good player amongst them. And when I looked at those on the touchline managing the teams and saw their reactions, all I concluded was that they were comfortable with the unorganised style of play,” Shaibu stated.

He further urged local players and stakeholders to improve their approach if they must earn opportunities ahead of foreign-based players in the national team setup.

“I don’t see any opportunity from this type of local players representing the Nigeria football system of our dream. They need to wake up if they must be picked ahead of our foreign players,” Shaibu concluded.

In recent years, Nigeria Football clubs have fallen short of expectations especially in their performance at the continental competition, a dwindling standards associated with the administration and application of football domestically.

To this end, the National Sports Commission (NSC) recently announced top notch measured aimed at reforming the country’s domestic league.

Part of the measures, according to the leadership of NSC, is that from next football season, clubs licensing produredure must be upgraded to international standards, with clubs expected to pay a minimum wage of N2million to players.