Olusegun Adeyemo
Former Super Eagles player Felix Owolabi has expressed disappointment over the state of sports development in Nigeria, stating that the country is no longer developing sports but merely showcasing them without real impact.
Speaking in an interview with The Journal Nigeria, Owolabi said, “At the moment, Nigeria is not developing sports. What we are doing is advertising, and we can’t even say we’re promoting it in the true sense. The essence of sports activities is to build developmental programs, and at the heart of those programs are the kids.”
Owolabi cited Nigeria’s impressive record at youth level, particularly in the FIFA U-17 World Cup, as a missed opportunity to develop future stars.
“Let me remind you that Nigeria has won the U-17 World Cup five times,” he said. “But how many of those players have gone on to play for the senior national team? That shows something is wrong with our development structure.”
He stressed that for Nigeria to see real progress in sports, there must be a clear focus on grassroots development.
“For Nigerian sports to truly develop, grassroots sporting activities must be prioritized,” he emphasized.
The football veteran also lamented the poor state of sporting facilities across the country, describing it as a major hindrance to progress.
“Without proper facilities, there is no way we can advance in sports development. Infrastructure is key, and so is the availability of qualified coaches. You can’t separate these from real growth in sports,” Owolabi added.
He concluded by expressing hope that Nigerian sports will eventually find the right path.
“I pray that we get it right in our sports development. The talent is there — we just need the system to work.”
Felix Owolabi was a key figure in Nigeria’s 1980 Africa Cup of Nations-winning team and is widely respected for his football insight and passion for youth development.