Ex Super Eagles, Makinwa cautions on Super Eagles AFCON provisional list

Posted : 23 December 2023

Following a series of backlashes that trailed the invitation of just three home-based players into the 40-man provisional list, which will compete for the final cut for the African Cup of Nations next year, former Super Eagles player and coach, Henry Makinwa, has cautioned that the present structure of Nigerian clubs and the administration of the league would make it difficult to produce top players for the national teams.

The former coach of Katsina United and Abia Warriors made this statement on Saturday.

The Pro UEFA Licensed Coach noted that the present salary structure of Nigerian league players is too low and not enough, which gives room for a low quality of players.

The Spain-based gaffer, therefore, opined that football investment has its own reward and return on investments.

Referring to the history when players like Ike Shorounmu, Alloy Agu, Edema Fuludu, Mutiu Adepoju, Finidi George, Abiodun Baruwa, Rashidi Yekini were spotted in the league, the tactician said that the league was good when players used to stay for as much as three years. This is unlike what is obtainable nowadays when, after spending a season, the players depart for better-organized leagues with better welfare packages.

The former ABS and Verndressa handler also referenced Aboutrika and Hossam Hassan, who were earning $4000 in their respective clubs in the Egyptian league during their playing time, adding that Nigerian clubs found it difficult to even pay $2000 for the players at that time.

"In Egypt, clubs like Al-Ally and Zamalek will continue to produce players for their national teams.

For instance, players like Aboutrika and Hossam Hassan were receiving about $4000, while our clubs back then could not even pay $2,000.

Then, such a league can guarantee consistent players to represent their national teams."

"Another point is that I know of five players who won the league for Rivers United that ran to less fancied leagues the following season just to break even ahead of their future.

What this means is that our league needs a structural change to produce top players," the former U-20 player maintains.

"It's very sad we didn't have so many home-based players in the Super Eagles. It's just that we didn't have continuity in our league.

They all want to go abroad for better welfare packages, as the present salary structure is extremely small to sustain their future," the graduate of Obafemi Awolowo University submitted.

Ex Super Eagles, Makinwa cautions on Super Eagles AFCON provisional list

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