Recently, Nigerian teams at the Afro basket for women and the Super Falcons were victorious in their different engagements. In the light of this, the Federal Government and some State Governments rewarded their athletes with cash rewards of about N15,000,000 Naira, national honours and 3 bedroom apartments or plots of land as the case might be. All these are not my area of focus. The main area I will like Nigerians to look at, is the composition of the members of these teams that won laurels for Nigeria. 

You will observe that majority of the players involved in these victories are foreign based. It means that these players have a very solid foundation and background from where they ply their trades. I mean they are exposed to state of the art technology where modern day facilities and enabling environments are provided for them to train and keep fit for these various competitions and they also feed well; hence their impressive performances.

Nigeria’s CHAN (African Nations Championship) campaign was marred by what many consider poor preparations and a string of issues, culminating in a disappointing performance. The team’s early exit from the tournament, including a heavy 4-0 defeat to Sudan, highlighted deeper problems within Nigerian football. Critics point to inadequate training, limited friendly matches, and a lack of understanding among players as key factors contributing to the team’s struggles. 

The team’s preparation was criticized for being rushed and insufficient. They reportedly had only one training camp and two friendly matches before the tournament. This lack of preparation time hindered the development of tactical understanding and team cohesion. 

Furthermore, some players were reportedly released late, and the coach’s tactical approach was questioned.  The CHAN tournament, featuring only home-based players, exposed the weaknesses of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL). The NPFL’s decline over the past decade has affected the quality of players available for the CHAN squad. Some analysts suggest that the league’s stagnation is a major factor in the team’s poor performance. Beyond the immediate match results, the CHAN debacle has sparked broader conversations about the state of Nigerian football. 

There’s a call for structural reforms within the NFF, including increased private sector investment, professionalization of club management, and the establishment of youth academies to develop a more sustainable talent pipeline. The CHAN performance serves as a wake-up call for Nigerian football authorities to address these underlying issues.  By the end of the games, Nigeria had zero points, zero goals, and were officially out of CHAN 2024 with one game still to play. 

But when you come to reason with the performance of the home based super eagles you will observe that their performance had been woeful since the commencement of the CHAN competition. In their first match they lost to Senegal (the defending champion) by a goal to nil. In the same vein, they lost to Sudan by four goals to nil in their second match. As at the time of writing this piece they are yet to play the third and last match of the competition.

Already, they are out of the competition with the two matches played. So, even when they win the third match, which I know they may not win, it will have no impact in their qualification for the next stage.  

It is very glaring that the performance of the home based super eagles in the current championship is not encouraging and lots of reasons might be adduced for this poor performance. If you look at other teams that are in this championship, you will see that they are really doing fine except for those who are not serious in their preparations. If a country like Sudan can beat Nigeria (apologies to Sudan), then there is more to it than meets the eye. Countries that used to see Nigeria as giants of Africa are now threats to our football development. I think they should learn from us rather than the other way round.

The main issue that people fail to realize is that the Nigeria economy is not putting smiles on the faces of Nigerians. The salary or allowances being paid to these players cannot put three square meals on their tables not to talk of their families. So, this in a nutshell will put them off psychologically. If you fail to eat good and balanced diet, it will likely lead to malnutrition. Malnutrition in football players can significantly impact mental health, leading to issues like depression, anxiety, and decreased cognitive function. It can also affect personality traits, making players more prone to neuroticism and less open and agreeable. 

The physical consequences of malnutrition, such as fatigue and increased injury risk, can further exacerbate these psychological effects.  The physical consequences of malnutrition, such as fatigue, muscle weakness, and increased injury risk, directly affect athletic performance. Reduced physical capacity and slower recovery times can lead to frustration and decreased motivation.

Overall, it is crucial for football players to maintain a balanced and nutritious diet to support both their physical and mental health. Proper nutrition is essential for optimal athletic performance and overall well-being. The cost-effectiveness of proper nutrition is multifaceted. While healthy diets can be more expensive upfront, the long-term health benefits, reduced healthcare costs, and increased productivity often outweigh the initial investment. 

However, affordability remains a barrier for many, particularly those in lower-income groups, highlighting the need for interventions to make nutritious food more accessible and affordable. 

It is therefore imperative that government should enact policies and laws that will make club owners to take proper care of their players. Also, in a general term, government should create an enabling environment for its citizenry to feel the impact of good governance by lowering the cost of food items that can help to sustain the people and make life bearable. Facilities in stadiums should be upgraded and maintained, so that our athletes can compete with the foreign based ones.

God Bless Nigeria!!!