For all that it may be unpopular, the ongoing FIFA Club World Cup is a showcase for the elite – clubs and players alike. As such, it has served to highlight a disturbing reality for Nigeria’s Super Eagles.
In total, five Nigerian players will feature in the competition: Joshua Udoh, Haliru Sarki, Hassan Sani, Onuche Ogbelu and Zaidu Sanusi. Of that number, only the latter, who plays for Porto is a senior international; the other four have represented the country, but have only done so at under-age level. (Ogbelu, who shone against Flamengo, has trained with the senior national team, it must be mentioned.)
Considering the Club World Cup is not a youth tournament, the obvious question is: where are the country’s best and brightest?
Why do Super Eagles players not grace the game’s elite?
For a country that ranks in the top 10 for footballer exports in the world, it is a statistical quirk that so few Nigerian footballers make it to the apex of the sport.
In truth, there are a number of factors – too many to comprehensively list, too complex to explain exhaustively even if it were possible. However, here are three, touched on in brief, that put a cap on the heights Super Eagles players attain.
Socio-cultural conditioning
One’s estate at birth cannot be helped. The reality of being born in Nigeria, where the majority of the population lives in poverty, is that there is little room for romanticism. Think about it: when have you ever heard a Nigerian footballer, born within its shores, say his ambition is to be the best in the world or win a certain accolade? The priority is and has always been escape from privation.
Ironically, while football is viewed as a possible means of elevation, due to a lack of infrastructure and institutionalised development pathways, the chances of success are even slimmer than they should be. Therefore, if it arrives, it can seem random, an extension of the ‘blow’ culture that is pervasive in the entertainment industry (this goes some way toward explaining why Nigerian footballers are so drawn to musicians and comedians, often to their own detriment).
Whereas players from other cultures might struggle with motivation and application after reaching their goals, for the vast majority of Nigerian footballers, their emotional investment and drive begins to wane as soon as they reach a degree of economic independence. As such there is seldom the level of sustained excellence or evident improvement that convinces the biggest clubs to shell out; by the same token, there is little desire on the part of the player(s) to make the sacrifices needed to take that leap.
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Cavernous coaching gaps
The consequence of the aforementioned lack of infrastructure and development framework is widespread.
One area in which this manifests is in a paucity of good quality coaching, especially at younger ages. The formative years are crucial for the proper technical and tactical grounding of players; without it, Nigeria often churns out players who stand out for their athleticism, but are behind their peers in other areas.
As such, it takes longer, relatively speaking, for Nigerian footballers to find their footing at the elite levels of the game. If they do at all, their footballing education will usually be complete at an age when they are no longer attractive to top clubs. And even for those whose athletic gifts are freakish enough to compensate for their deficiencies, there is yet another road block that presents itself.
Lack of settled, high-powered management
When a career is solely about maximising gain, ceding control – in exchange for a slightly smaller percentage – can be a serious wrench.
It may not be a palatable state of affairs, but when it comes to the transfer market, big name agents have a lot of sway. There is a reason they are sought after: their networks are vast, they have ins at the biggest clubs in the world, and are able to plead their clients’ cases very convincingly.
Joao Felix has the best football agent in this business 🤯
— Complete Football 247 (@Completefoot247) June 10, 2025
Where could he be stopping next?🤔 pic.twitter.com/jbtyn9SuzU
Ever wonder why Joao Felix keeps getting moves, despite flopping at every turn? Exactly. They also offer advice, built over years of experience, to facilitate the upward mobility of their players’ careers.
They, however, do not come cheap. This is where things get tricky, especially if you are someone who, by virtue of having been born into hardship, is trying to wring every drop of value out of your playing career.
