- Former 3SC Coach, GBENGA OGUNBOTE
Nigerian football appears to be facing one of its darkest moments in history. The country’s age-grade teams, from the Under-17 to the Under-23, have all failed to qualify for major international tournaments, while the Super Eagles are now at risk of missing out on yet another FIFA World Cup. To Gbenga Ogunbote, the decline of the nation’s football is not by chance, but by consistent neglect of structure, planning, and commitment.
Gbenga Ogunbote, popularly known as “Oracle,” is one of Nigeria’s most respected football coaches, known for his tactical discipline and experience with top clubs such as Shooting Stars Sports Club, 3SC, Rangers International, Sunshine Stars, and Enyimba. Despite not yet winning the Nigeria Premier Football League, NPFL title, his consistency and leadership have made him a household name in Nigerian football.
Speaking in an exclusive interview, Ogunbote lamented the state of Nigerian football, stressing that “the solutions we need are with you and with me.” He explained that several things could be responsible for the steady decline, starting from the selection process to the preparatory stages of the teams. “We need to look at what we have been doing right in the past and what we are not doing now,” he said. “Once we can identify and correct these lapses, the solutions are already with us.”
Ogunbote emphasized that the root of Nigeria’s football crisis begins with how players are selected for national duty. “The man who determines who is selected is the coach,” he said. “He knows what he wants to play and who can deliver that for him. But the truth is, we have not been doing enough in terms of preparation.”
The veteran coach recalled how previous national teams succeeded through consistent and phased preparation. “In Keshi’s time, for instance, players were camped for longer periods, released to their clubs, and brought back again. That constant interaction built synergy and understanding. They weren’t just players, they were a team,” Ogunbote explained.
However, he lamented that today’s national teams lack that same structure and cohesion. “We are now selecting players afresh every time a tournament comes up. Other countries keep their players in touch and build chemistry over time, but we don’t. We think miracles will happen when we’ve not prepared enough,” he said.
On the Super Eagles’ recent struggles, Ogunbote admitted that the situation is more complicated than many think. “It’s a serious question,” he noted. “When you look at other countries, you see the commitment they put into games, they play like they really want to go to the World Cup. But for us, it’s the same method, the same set of players, and the same lack of drive. If we keep doing the same thing, we’ll keep getting the same results.”
He criticized the lack of encouragement for home-based players, insisting that Nigeria’s domestic league should be the foundation for rebuilding the national team. “Everyone says the league is not good, but how will it be good when we don’t encourage them?” Ogunbote asked. “If we consistently call players from our domestic league, expose them to camping and international games, and then mix them with a few foreign-based players, you’ll see a better team spirit and fight.”
The former Sunshine Stars and Enyimba coach attributed much of the national team’s struggles to a lack of commitment and planning. “We have failed to plan, and every time we fail to plan, we receive the results of our failure,” he stated. “Even when people claim that certain players are being imposed on the coaches, the coach still bears responsibility. A good coach must be fair and go for what will bring results.”
Ogunbote also took a swipe at the football administrators, saying the problem extends beyond the technical bench. “We can’t continue to think of winning every match against Brazil or any top side when we have not built a proper system,” he said. “We hide under the guise of sentiments instead of facing the facts and building from the grassroots.”
When asked about the solution, Ogunbote was clear: “We must start grooming players from our domestic league. Call them up regularly, camp them, let them play friendly games, and give them exposure. When that’s done, we can now invite a few foreign-based players to blend with them. But as long as we keep relying on foreign-based stars who are not ready to give their all, the crisis will continue.”
He lamented that many players in the national team show less commitment compared to the passion they display for their clubs abroad. “We see their energy and risk-taking for their clubs, but when it comes to playing for Nigeria, that spark disappears. The commitment is not there,” he said. “Football comes with risks, but they are not ready to take those risks for their country.”
The coach, fondly called “Oracle,” concluded by saying that Nigerian football must return to the basics, planning, consistency, and fairness. “If the process of selection is wrong, there is nothing the best coach can do,” he warned. “We have millions of Nigerians who can play football. What we lack is a proper structure and honest system.”
On his personal ambitions, Ogunbote, who has coached several top clubs in the NPFL, including Rangers, Sunshine Stars, and Shooting Stars, admitted he is still chasing an elusive league title. “It’s a difficult one,” he smiled. “But I am still here, and I believe it will happen soon.”
For him, however, the bigger goal remains the revival of Nigerian football. “Our game has potential. We have talent everywhere. What we need now is sincerity, structure, and sacrifice,” he said. “Until we put those things in place, Nigerian football will remain in crisis.” he concluded.
By Benprince Ezeh
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