Former Super Falcons coach Samson Unuanel has called on Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) clubs to prioritize youth development, pointing to the success of this approach in Francophone nations.
Unuanel, who currently serves as head coach of Benin Republic top-tier side Ayema FC, emphasized that developing young talent is crucial for the future of Nigerian football.
"In my current team at Ayema, I have eight players who've never played in any professional league, three from Nigeria and three from elsewhere in Africa," Unuanel told Flashscore in a recent interview.
"One of them has already won Man of the Match multiple times, despite never featuring in the NLO, NNL, or Premier League before. That's the kind of development we should be focusing on," he added.
Freedom from Interference
The veteran tactician highlighted that his success with developing young players at Ayema FC stems from the absence of interference in his coaching decisions, a factor he suggests might be missing in Nigerian clubs.
"I can do it here because there's no interference. When you're building a team, you must think about the next generation; gradually easing them in with 10-15 minutes of play, starting occasionally or even learning from the bench," Unuanel explained.
He emphasized that player development requires actual match experience: "Players don't grow just through practice; they learn by being involved."
Criticism of Nigerian Approach
Unuanel criticized the Nigerian football system for its impatience with young talents, noting how quickly promising players are discarded after underperforming.
"In Nigeria, when young players underperform, we quickly discard them. Tell me, can you even name the U-17 players whose passports were forgotten in Ibadan?" he questioned.
"No, because they didn't win, and we've already moved on. That's exactly what will happen to this next group too, unless we change," Unuanel warned.
His comments come at a time when Nigerian football continues to struggle with consistency at both club and national team levels, despite the country's abundance of raw talent.
Football analysts have long pointed to sustainable youth development as a missing link in Nigerian football's quest to compete with global powerhouses and even regional rivals who have implemented more structured development programs.
