Nigerian Football Legend Sylvanus Okpala Calls for Homegrown Solutions, Urges Coaches to Meet Players Individually

As Nigeria’s football team faces setbacks, a former assistant coach of the Nigerian national football team, Sylvanus Okpala, has weighed in on the situation. Okpala, a respected figure in Nigerian football, has emphasized the importance of homegrown solutions to the country’s football challenges. In an interview with PUNCH Online, Okpala highlighted the need for Nigerian coaches to step forward and solve the team’s problems.

“Coach! Coach! We’re not going to find the solution on Mount Kilimanjaro. It’s under our feet,” Okpala said, emphasizing the potential that Nigerian coaches possess. “If they ask me today, I will select myself and four other coaches, and we will give Nigeria what they want.”

Okpala, a 1980 and 2013 AFCON winner, is adamant that there is still time for the Super Eagles to qualify for the 2026 World Cup. However, he warns that failure to do so could have catastrophic consequences for Nigerian football.

“Anybody that takes over and doesn’t qualify for the World Cup has failed,” Okpala stated. “Nigeria still has a chance to qualify, but we need to get our house in order.”

Okpala has also commented on the recent controversy surrounding Victor Osimhen and the ex-national team coach, criticising both parties for their handling of the situation. He believes that coaches should refrain from publicly criticising their players.

“You don’t criticise your players, whether you win or you lose. That’s never done,” Okpala said. “Osimhen made some mistakes, but there are mistakes also somewhere too.”

The NFF is determined to appoint a foreign coach as part of its plan to resurrect Nigeria’s 2026 World Cup dreams. The organisation has shortlisted Herve Renard, Tom Saintfiet, and former Mali coach Eric Chelle as potential candidates. Renard is the front-runner due to his impressive track record, having won the African Cup of Nations with Zambia and Côte d’Ivoire.