In September 1993, Nigeria’s U-17 team lifted the country’s second world youth title after defeating Ghana with 22,000 people in attendance at Tokyo’s National Stadium. That moment, many felt, was the birth of a new dominant football generation. In the years that followed, with success at the 1994 African Nations Cup and a historic win at the 1996 Olympic Games football tournament, the optimism around the immediate future of Nigerian football was validated. Disappointingly however, the successes enjoyed between 1993 and 1996 were not replicated and rather than witness a success boom, Nigerian football experienced lean years.
The team of 1993 was disbanded and only one member of the squad- Kanu Nwankwo- can claim to have had a successful, long-lasting senior career which begs the question: what was the excitement about?
A repeated cycle
It has become a ritual of sorts in Nigerian football- every youth team is heralded as the future of the country and tipped for greatness. After the success of the Olympic team which earned them the nickname ‘The Dream Team’, subsequent teams have been burdened with pressures of replicating previous successes and next year, ‘Dream Team V’ could feature at the Rio Olympics. Seeing as Nigeria has enjoyed enviable success at youth level with four U17 world titles (the most by any country), the excitement of 1993 was not an isolated event. In 2007 and in 2013, following the wins, Nigeria replayed the same script. However the trend for these young players, rather than progress through the ranks as expected, saw them fade off soon after being tipped for greatness. Others faded off much later after a series of transfers which land them in the backwaters of European football.
Law of averages
The big disappointment for Nigerian football fans is that only a few members of youth teams make the successful transition to the national team. In truth, this is hardly an anomaly as all over the world it is rare to find youth teams that have a majority of their players successfully grow into full-time internationals. The typical scenario sees an average of three members of a youth team progress to the senior teams and where a bigger group progresses – a relative rarity- that group is generally referred to as a ‘golden generation’.
Changing tides
In the past Nigerian youth football has been plagued by age falsification scandals which provided a clear reason for the lack of longevity for said youth players but these days, given improved age tracking technology, these scandals have inevitably reduced. While age scandals may have abated, there must also be a shift in general thinking with regard to youth teams. Too often, we forget that for youth teams, the emphasis should be on development rather than winning trophies. Media officer to the Nigerian U15 national team, Bunmi Blair shares this sentiment and says there must be a stronger will to invest in developmental programmes.
“Most administrators either do not have the will to invest in youth development programmes or understand the importance,” he says. “Also because they are under pressure to deliver, they go the easy routes which are normally short-lived.”
Blair’s point is fairly obvious to see as even though we have had great youth teams, the excitement around their prospects has been short-lived. “If you decide to embark on youth development programmes, it is also vital to have a functional technical department,” Blair added. “Player development is pointless if progress is not monitored.”
Unfamiliar shores
While Nigerian administrators have failed to crack the problem of setting out proper developmental structures, young players face another set of problems when they arrive in Europe – the ultimate football destination – with hopes of having successful career. German based football journalist and player intermediary Oma Akatugba says despite making the cut in Europe, young players can be held back by Nigerian problems.
“Football is an outlet for many young players and as soon as they get into Europe, they are seen as bread winners saddled with the responsibility of saving their families from poverty. Rather than focus on their game, young players are pressured by family issues and excessive demands from home.” Given how modern day football has evolved, young players and their families would be wise to seek sound financial and investment advice to properly manage their new found wealth and thus allow them focus on their football.
Akatugba also suggests that the inadequate developmental training in Nigeria often catches up with young players in Europe. “The lack of proper structure back home is a serious mitigating factor. Players who showcase great talent in youth tournaments earn moves to Europe but their development stalls as they are faced with higher demands that are foreign to them.”
In Chile, the 2015 U17 World Cup is currently ongoing and next month another youth team, the U23 side will be vying for a ticket to the Olympics. Should either side enjoy success there will be another round of excitement. The new regime at the Nigerian Football Federation has made the right moves with regard to youth development. Its biggest so far is a partnership with Zenith Bank. It may be a while before we start to reap the benefits but long-term thinking is a welcome departure from the previous reality of short-cuts to temporary success.
As always, Nigerian football fans are hopeful about a few youth prospects. Players like Kelechi Iheanacho and Taiwo Awoniyi from the successful 2013 youth team have earned moves to Manchester City and Liverpool. There might not be a large-scale excitement as witnessed in 1993, but many will be quietly optimistic that the new bright hopes of Nigerian football will find their way to the top of the game. Another golden generation might emerge but for now, these two will do.
