CHAN 2024: Agbim and Disu defend NPFL, cite poor preparation and coaching decisions

By Dayo Awoniyi

Nigeria’s early exit from the African Nations Championship (CHAN) has stirred controversy, with critics targeting Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) chairman Hon. Gbenga Elegbeleye.

However, prominent football experts argue the blame lies elsewhere.

Former Super Eagles goalkeeper Chigozie Agbim and ex-Flying Eagles coach Tunde Disu insist the failure was due to inadequate preparation and questionable coaching choices—not the quality of the NPFL.

“The Nigerian league is not poor and remains competitive,” Disu said, emphasizing that the NPFL was neither involved in player selection nor in managing the team’s camp logistics for the CHAN Eagles.

Criticism has also been directed at the technical team for restricting last season’s top scorer, Yusuf Ana, to a brief substitute appearance in the opening game and excluding him entirely in the next match. Furthermore, fielding 10 players from Remo Stars, one club in a 20-team league, raised concerns about limited squad diversity.

Analysts maintain that the NPFL leadership cannot be held responsible, as they were neither invited to the tournament nor consulted on critical decisions.

“Elegbeleye wasn’t the coach of the team. The league body was never part of the process,” Agbim stressed.

Despite the CHAN setback, the NPFL has made notable strides recently, including aligning its calendar with major European leagues, enhancing refereeing standards, and promoting transparency under Elegbeleye’s leadership.

Experts argue that instead of scapegoating the NPFL, all stakeholders should conduct a thorough review of team preparation and management. Closer collaboration between the league and national team coaches is essential to avoid similar disappointments in the future.

Samuel Ahmadu

Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. He began his career at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.

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