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Ex-International, SEYI OLOFINJANA
Former Super Eagles midfielder, Seyi Olofinjana, has explained why he cannot confidently recommend or scout players from the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) for foreign clubs. The ex-international, who played for top English sides like Stoke City, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Hull City, before venturing into scouting and football administration, said the biggest problem lies in dishonesty and a lack of professionalism among players in the domestic league.
Olofinjana, who now works as a scout for Chelsea FC and has also consulted for other European clubs, said the integrity of players’ profiles has been the biggest stumbling block. He pointed to age falsification as the most damaging factor. “Age lying is a big challenge. You see players claiming to be 19 or 20 when clearly their bodies and years in the game suggest otherwise. This makes it difficult for us scouts to present them to European clubs where proper documentation and verification is strict,” he said.
Beyond age discrepancies, he highlighted how many NPFL players are dishonest about their physical condition. He revealed that fitness and medicals are key in football transfers, yet several Nigerian league players misrepresent themselves until they are put through thorough tests in Europe. “Fitness lying is another issue. Some of these boys are not fully fit, but they hide injuries until you put them through proper medicals in Europe. That immediately raises red flags for any serious club,” he explained.
He also lamented the lack of professionalism that has become common among NPFL footballers. According to him, foreign clubs are not only scouting for talent but also for discipline, mentality, and consistency. “You cannot recommend a player who, when given a chance, is late to training, doesn’t follow instructions, or carries himself in a manner that does not reflect well on the club,” Olofinjana noted.
Because of these recurring problems, Olofinjana admitted that he prefers scouting directly from Nigerian academies, where younger talents can be molded with the right age and proper profile. He explained that academies offer raw but genuine prospects whose records are easier to verify, unlike many NPFL players whose documentation is questionable. “If you go to the academies, you are likely to see a boy of 15, 16 or 17 who is truly that age. It makes the job easier, and when they go abroad, they still have years of development ahead of them,” he said.
Reflecting on his own journey, the former Super Eagles midfielder recalled how he rose from grassroots football in Nigeria to international prominence. He was discovered while playing for Crown FC and later Kwara United, before earning his move abroad. His standout performances earned him a place in the Super Eagles, where he represented Nigeria at the 2004 and 2008 Africa Cup of Nations. That same trajectory saw him secure moves to Wolverhampton Wanderers, Stoke City, Hull City and Sheffield Wednesday in England. His understanding of the game and his international exposure later inspired his transition into scouting and administration, where he now works with top European clubs, including Chelsea.
Olofinjana’s comments highlight the struggles of Nigerian league players in gaining international recognition despite the country’s undeniable footballing talent. He pointed out that the system has failed to evolve in a way that inspires confidence in scouts and clubs abroad. Yet, he admitted that there have been rare exceptions, most notably the case of Enyimba FC, Nigeria’s most successful club side, which famously won back-to-back CAF Champions League titles in 2003 and 2004.
Enyimba’s dominance at that time did more than just bring continental glory, it created an avenue for several of their players to earn contracts abroad. Stars like Vincent Enyeama, Obinna Nwaneri, Uche Kalu, and others used those continental successes as springboards to international careers. Enyeama, for example, went on to become one of Africa’s most respected goalkeepers, enjoying an illustrious career in Europe with clubs like Lille in France. Those achievements, Olofinjana admitted, showed that with structure, discipline, and professionalism, Nigerian-based players could indeed compete at the highest levels and attract serious international attention.
However, he stressed that the current state of the NPFL is a far cry from the days of Enyimba’s continental dominance. Poor league administration, lack of transparency in player data, and short-term approaches have made it difficult for players to break out as consistently as they did two decades ago. “Enyimba was successful because they had a structure, a team that was disciplined, and a system that matched the professionalism of African football at that time. That’s why their players had opportunities to move abroad and excel,” Olofinjana said.
Today, Olofinjana believes the Nigerian football system needs urgent reforms to replicate that era and to make the NPFL a reliable source of talent for global clubs once again. He maintained that as long as issues like age falsification, hidden injuries, and unprofessional conduct remain, scouts like him would continue to look to academies and grassroots football instead of directly engaging league players.
“Football is about trust. When I tell a club about a player, they trust me to give them the right profile. If I get it wrong even once, I may never be trusted again. That is why I cannot gamble with players whose details I cannot verify,” he said firmly.
For now, while Nigerian football continues to produce flashes of talent, Olofinjana’s verdict is clear: the NPFL needs credibility, professionalism, and proper structures before it can once again be seen as a reliable conveyor belt of world-class footballers.
By Benprince Ezeh
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