Don’t Get Carried Away, Onigbinde Warns Nigerians

Former Super Eagles coach Adegboye Onigbinde has warned Nigeria from going over the moon with success achieved at age grade competitions but rather shift focus on the gradual transition of such teams from the junior to the senior level.

Onigbinde said on Brila FM that the purpose of the establishment of junior championships should not be lost on Nigerians but should be strictly adhered to in a bid to have a better senior team for the country in the long run.

The 77-year-old who also has served as CAF and FIFA Technical Instructor accused the country’s youth system of complicity in age cheats at developmental competitions.

“If we had been sincere to ourselves by the time we think we are cheating our opponent or FIFA, we’d realize we’re only cheating ourselves.

“FIFA started this youth programme in 1972 to encourage the development of players from the grassroots and be given the opportunity to move gradually into the senior team.

“But in a situation where a player who’s supposed to be retired from the senior team is still playing in the underage is not palatable,” the former Eagles coach said.

“I think there’s no reason we can’t raise a primary school team that could be developed and moved gradually into the national team.”