Byline: IDNN Sports Desk
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has moved to defend the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) after the Super Eagles B failed to advance beyond the group stage of the 2025 African Nations Championship (CHAN), hosted in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda.
The home-based squad, led by Coach Eric Chelle, was eliminated after losing 0–1 to Senegal and 0–4 to Sudan before salvaging a 2–0 win over Congo. The performance, far below expectations given Nigeria’s pedigree in the competition — one silver and two bronze medals in past outings — sparked questions about the strength of the NPFL.
Speaking at the NPFL Awards in Abuja, NFF General Secretary Dr. Mohammed Sanusi dismissed such criticism, arguing the CHAN results do not reflect the quality of Nigeria’s league.
“We need to set the record straight. The performance of our CHAN team is not a true reflection of our league. Nigeria is a breeding ground for talent. The moment a player learns to trap, pass, and dribble, he gets snapped up abroad. That is our reality,” Sanusi said.
Sanusi explained that FIFA regulations make it impossible for clubs to hold back players who secure overseas contracts.
“There is nothing we can do to prevent players from moving abroad. Once there is an agreement between clubs, FIFA compels us to release them. In contrast, other African leagues retain their talents far longer,” he stressed.
He noted that the NPFL has improved significantly, especially in officiating, where away teams now win matches without controversy, a development he described as a testament to reforms in the league.
The NFF chief added that Nigeria’s “football economy” benefits from exporting players, with thousands of professionals now playing abroad.
“Daily, I receive at least 20 applications from players invited by foreign clubs. This is a significant positive. We may lose them at home, but we gain international recognition and remittances. That is why we have over a thousand professional players worldwide, while many of our rivals barely manage five or ten,” Sanusi said.
The NFF congratulated the NPFL for its progress and urged critics to consider evidence before disparaging the league.
“The CHAN exit was disappointing, yes, but it is not the death of our league. We must support the NPFL to enhance revenue and reputation, not tear it down,” Sanusi concluded.
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