Two Times U17 World Cup Winner Explains Why Nigeria Failed To Win Titles Since 2015

Two Times U17 World Cup Winner Explains Why Nigeria Failed To Win Titles Since 2015

By Niyi Busari

Former Nigeria U17 Coach, Manu Garba, OON, has expressed the reason African and Nigeria in particular failed to win the under age world Cup titles since they last won it in 2015, BSNSports.com.ng can report.

Manu Garba attributed the failure to win titles to poor preparations, not having enough time in camp ahead of particular tourney and poor renumeration from the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

Speaking exclusively with BSN Sports in Abuja, the former U20 African Nations Cup Winner said, "One of the major reasons I can ascribe to the failure to win the under-age world Cup is enough time and quality preparations. Like in 2013, we went round to scout for players for several months and then there was no interference from anywhere for team selection. By the time we started the qualifier for African Nations Cup and the World Cup, the federation paid match bonus on the day the match. So, part of why we succeeded that time was that we have good time to scout for good players and have enough time to train together. We have togetherness, team work, team spirit among the players and the officials and most importantly we played a lot of international friendly even before the commencement of the Nations Cup.

He also stated that poor renumeration for players and coaches are part of the reasons.

"And I can say the bonus motivation part played a great role in making the team succeed.

He insisted that MRI is not the problem but the reason stated above.

"No, MRI is not the main reason Nigeria failed to continue winning the World Cup, in 2013 there was MRI. I can remember when we went for AFCON in Morocco, a day before the tournament when CAF conducted the MRI, they removed Ndidi, Emma Asadu and Al-Hassan Ibrahim from our team leaving us with 18 players. And with 18 players we still went and played in the final losing to Cote d'Ivoire in the final. That not withstanding, we went in to win the World Cup in that year because of the quality of the team." He concluded.

The Amaju Pinnick led NFF since inception in 2014 won the U17 World Cup in 2015 (the team was prepared by his predecessor, Aminu Maigari) and since then, the Federation failed to win any trophy except two Women's African Nations Cup.

The NFF in 2019 announced the cancellation of match bonuses for all the under age national teams and also stoppage of salaries for all the assistant coaches and backroom staff.

The national teams have not been in camp for one year preparing for a particular competition under Pinnick.

Manu Garba has won the FIFA U17 World Cup two times and one time U20 AFCON champion and runner up in U17 World Cup.