Elochukwu Wants A Functional Football System

As the euphoria over the semi-final feat achieved by Morocco at the last World Cup continues, a sports philanthropist Chief Ernest Elochukwu says the only way the Super Eagles of Nigeria can qualify and surpass that record at the next World Cup is for football administrators to review the football system in the country.
Chief Elochukwu said this last Tuesday in an exclusive chat with National Point in Port Harcourt.
“For the Super Eagles to qualify for the next World Cup and surpass the feat achieved by the Atlas Lion of Morocco, our football administrators need to run an efficient and functional football system devoid of ineptitude.
“Besides, it does not matter whether or not the Super Eagles have a foreign coach but so long as those who are running the football system in the country have the same mindset, we cannot get it right.”
Chief Elochukwu who is the MD of Global Rays explained that the record set by Morocco at the last Mundial was an indication that the game of football has come of age in Africa.
“The record set by Morocco at the last World Cup is an indication that football has come of age in Africa. It also implies that the entire world has become a global village because the African home based players now watch the European football leagues and EUFA Champions league regularly.
“In other words, African players’ football prowess has improved over the years. Again, they are doing it on a professional level in Europe and the incentive there is high. For this reason, it is not surprising that Morocco did well at the last World Cup.
“However, one expects that by now Africa would have made some mark at the World Cup. I think there is no rocket science to winning the world cup, but skills tactics and above all resolution. In fact, many of the world cup national team winners did not do it because they had Super humans but more preparation and resolution. This is where we should concern ourselves.
Chief Elochukwu went further, “It is a pity that Nigeria was absent at the last World Cup. This is as a result of our overbearing vested interest which is like a status symbol that has become something else, meddling with everything.
“That is why our football has not developed. Except there is the introduction of patriotism by the football administrators and the football player ready to go extra mile, we cannot make impact at the World Cup. We must not us fail to realize that when we talk about African football, Nigeria should be the number one.
The business mogul pointed out that in the past, Arsenal FC of England used to be known as a developmental club where growing footballers are groomed and nurtured but that today, Arsenal FC is one of the top English premier contenders, assuring that Arsenal FC will win the 2023 English premier title.
Since the senior World Cup started in Uruguay in 1930, no African side or team has reached the semi-final or final except Morocco in December 2022. The African team effort at previous world cup are Cameroon quarter-final at Italy 1990, Senegal quarter final at Korea- Japan 2002 and Ghana quarter final at South Africa 2010, before Morocco scintillating feat at Qatar 2022 World Cup last December.
National Point can authoritatively report that the next World Cup which will hold in 2026 will be co-hosted by Canada, Mexico and the United State of America (USA).