Nigeria football report 2019 as compiled by GreenHunters Sports International stated that football in Nigeria still operate as one of the social services provided by government. But the Youth and sports development Minister Samuel Dare has started the move to change the status quo... to commericalize football and make a viable economic business in Nigeria.
Is Super Eagles Becoming Invincible?
One of Nigeria's renowned journalists and football analysts Muminu Alao tweeted: "Is Super Eagles becoming invincible?"
After the Nigeria national team narrowly lost to the eventual winners of African Cup of Nations Algeria at the semi finals, the Super Eagles have shown incredible improvements afterwards: with 1 - 1 draw against both Ukraine and Brazil in international friendlies ...and has gone on to win Benin 2 - 1 in Uyo and also 2 - 4 away win in Wanda against Lesotho in Afcon 2021 qualifiers.
Super Eagles are gradually turning out to be the team fans want them to be. Thanks to NFF taking the right decision not to sack the German tactician Gernot Rohr, after a decent performance at the 2018 Fifa World Cup in Russia.
This may be the only cheering news about Nigeria football in 2019.
Nigeria National Teams Fail to Win in 2019
It was quite regrettable how Nigeria national teams brought so much heartache to fans in 2019. With abysmal performances at all the cadres of both men and women national teams that participated in various competition this year.
The Nigeria national teams seems to be jinxed in second round of each competition. Flying Eagles were the first to struggle into the round of 16, but lost 1 - 2 to Senegal at the Fifa U20 World cup in Portugal. The Paul Aigbogun's tutored boys played like bunch of clueless non-blended pack.
Well, not that anybody expected Super Falcons to performance magic, but the Thomas Dennerby girls put up such a gallant fight against host country France and qualified for the second round as best losers, gave fans some hope Nigeria can hold their own at the world stage. Super Falcons crash out against two times champions Germany by 0 - 3.
For once, Nigerian fans thought Super Eagles will go all the way to win the African ccup of nations in Egypt. But Gernot Rohr boys crash out of the semi finals after a last whistle goal that saw Algeria qualify for finals.
Finally, the Golden Eaglets were also knock out at the second round after losing 1 - 3 to the Netherlands. This set of Eaglets didn't show champions character despite having Manu Garba as the Head coach. Garba has won the cup twice as an assistant coach to Yemi Teller and as a head coach 2013. So we expected him to know how to execute such competition.
What made it look really bad is, the home based Eagles didn't do well even at the WAFU cup. Imama Amapakabo lead teams fail to qualify Eagles for 2020 CHAN and the U 23 team for 2020 Olympics in Tokoyo
The Weakness of NPFL
The Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) with so many troubles of scheduling a more proper league in the last two years. Ironically, Super Eagles coaches resorted to sourcing players of Nigerian descent abroad to make up the National teams, because no player from NPFL is seen as good enough to play at such level.
Perhaps, something to rejoice about Enyimba and Enugu Rangers still in this yeard Caf Champions league and has got to the league stage and some analysts have begin to comment tha. 2019/ 20 NPFL season has shown great improvements in the League
