Recent hirings and firings may have left a bad taste in the mouth of Nigerians in general and the Minister for Sport Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi in particular as he has told the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) to halt the process of hiring a foreign technical director for the Super Eagles.

According to a statement released:

Mallam Abdullahi explained that the decision was necessary as there are many competent Nigerians who have knowledge of grassroots football in the country and are better suited for the role of a Technical Director, whose main function is to identify and groom local talents.

In yet another attempt to address the issue of overage players plaguing the under-17 football team, Abdullahi also asked that all footballers  “that are invited to the National Under-17 Football camp must show proof of having been in secondary school, or a similar institution, in the last three consecutive years.