Former Golden Eaglets coach John Obuh said Nigeria's failure to qualify for the 2026 U‑17 AFCON – the tournament that also serves as a World Cup qualifier – stems from inadequate preparation and persistent interference. The veteran highlighted that merely re‑engaging successful past coaches will not resolve the problem.
"Bringing the likes of Amuneke back, who won with the Eaglets, isn't the issue it's the attention being given to them that matters. If you give the team attention and work that team up to want to get results, you will definitely get results," Obuh told Brila.net. He added that agents and administrators regularly meddle in player selection, creating "a lot of interruptions in the selection of players today."
Obuh warned that "a lot of people want their players to be picked. There's the question of nepotism and tribalism," and urged coaches to select squads solely on merit. He lamented the lack of accountability, noting, "We don't have a coach that will say, 'I am selecting my team if I fail, sack me.' Unfortunately, most of them today play to the hands of the person who gave them the job."
He called for a system where coaches are allowed to do their job without undue pressure, saying, "When they fail, it becomes a problem no one will come to own up, and they will sack you. So let the coaches who are given this job stand their ground and take the best out of the players they feel are qualified. If they fail, sack them but allow them to do their job."
Obuh's own record includes guiding the Golden Eaglets to a silver medal at the 2009 FIFA U‑17 World Cup, underscoring his belief that structured preparation, not political meddling, is key to future success.
It is surprising that the absence of a single qualified coach, rather than a lack of talent, is being pinpointed as the primary cause of the missed 2026 U‑17 AFCON spot.
Obuh's comments expose a deeper governance issue: interference from agents, administrators, and regional biases is crowding out merit‑based selection, which he argues directly hampers performance. The reference to "nepotism and tribalism" suggests that player choice is being driven by external agendas rather than tactical needs.
For Nigerian supporters, the critique hits close to home because the nation's last major youth triumph came under Obuh's guidance in 2009. His insistence on a structured preparation process implies that rebuilding the Golden Eaglets will require both administrative reform and protection for coaches willing to prioritize talent over politics.
The next step will be watching whether the Nigerian Football Federation implements any policy changes before the next youth cycle, and if a coach is given the autonomy to rebuild the squad without external pressure.
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