Former Nigeria international Etim Esin has raised serious concerns about the continued presence of the technical department within the Nigeria Football Federation following the country’s failure to qualify for consecutive FIFA World Cups.
In a strong critique, Esin called for urgent reforms, stressing that Nigerian football must abandon short-term thinking and embrace a structured, long-term approach.
“We need to change how we do things,” he said, pointing to the lack of proper planning as a major issue.
According to him, one of the recurring problems has been the tendency to delay preparation until qualifiers are close, rather than building consistently over time.
“You don’t wait for qualifiers,” Esin emphasized, noting that successful football nations begin planning years ahead.
He questioned why there has been little accountability despite recent setbacks, asking pointedly, “Why are they still there?” in reference to officials within the technical department.
Esin argued that keeping the same personnel despite repeated failures makes meaningful progress unlikely. For him, accountability is key to rebuilding and moving forward.
He also highlighted the importance of early talent identification and gradual integration of new players into the Super Eagles setup, rather than last-minute changes before major competitions.
With a new World Cup cycle already underway, his remarks reflect growing calls for reform within Nigerian football—centered on planning, accountability, and a clear long-term vision.
As discussions continue, Esin’s message is clear: without real change, progress will remain out of reach.
