Baldwin Bazuaye says Nigeria’s football setbacks come down to how badly its national teams are prepared, not the quality of the players themselves, and wants the country to properly honour those who put it on the football map in the first place.
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Former Super Eagles winger Baldwin Bazuaye has outlined what he believes Nigeria must do to revive its national football teams, arguing that better planning, earlier preparation and greater involvement of former internationals are essential to restoring the country’s standing in the game.
Bazuaye, an Atlanta 1996 Olympic gold medallist with Nigeria’s “Dream Team,” spoke against the backdrop of a difficult run for Nigerian football the Super Eagles’ failure to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the Super Falcons’ failure to reach the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup, and the Flying Eagles missing out on the 2027 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations and, with it, the FIFA U-20 World Cup.
“We Can’t Keep Repeating The Same Approach”
Bazuaye, who currently serves as a Director at the Edo State Sports Commission, argued that Nigeria’s national team problems have more to do with administration than a shortage of talent. He recalled that in his playing days, coaches were typically appointed six months to two years ahead of major tournaments, giving them time to properly assess domestic players and strategically add reinforcements from Europe as camps like Bembo Village and Afuze intensified preparations.
He contrasted that with the current pattern, where he said coaches are often appointed only weeks or months before qualifiers begin, forcing rushed squad-building from abroad and, in his view, contributing directly to Nigeria’s recent tournament exits. He said the country cannot keep repeating the same approach and expect a different result, stressing that adequate preparation time and institutional support give a coach every reason to succeed.
A Call To Honour The 1985 Golden Eaglets
Bazuaye also renewed calls for members of Nigeria’s 1985 Golden Eaglets squad, who won the country’s first FIFA U-17 World Cup in China, to be given prominent roles within Nigerian football administration and the national team set up. He said the squad put Nigeria on the map of world football but has largely been overlooked since, naming Nduka Ugbade and Imama Amapakabo as rare exceptions who went on to serve the U-17 team and national coaching staff respectively. He described the wider group as having been left behind despite laying the foundation for Nigeria’s later football success.
