Ideye slams NPFL quality after Nigeria’s CHAN collapse

By Tosin Omojola –

Former Nigerian international Brown Ideye has criticised Nigeria’s home-based national team, drawn from players in the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL), following their disappointing campaign at the 8th African Nations Championship (CHAN) in Morocco.

His comments follow the team’s poor showing, losing to both Senegal and Sudan, conceding five goals without scoring any.

After a 0-1 loss to Senegal in their opening fixture, the Eagles suffered a 0-4 defeat to Sudan in the second match, ending their chances of progressing to the next round regardless of their final Group D game against Congo in Dar es Salaam next Tuesday.

According to Ideye, the disastrous performance goes beyond bad luck or officiating and reflects a lack of quality players. “Let’s stop deceiving ourselves and pointing fingers when we fail. We are simply not good enough. The coach can only work with players available, and right now, we don’t have the calibre needed to compete on the bigger stage,” he said.

Nigeria’s poor showing in Zanzibar has again raised concerns about the NPFL’s ability to produce players capable of performing at the international level.

While some fans have blamed coaching tactics and preparation, Ideye’s remarks suggest the problem is structural, rooted in a talent pool that struggles to match Africa’s best.