Mobi Oparaku has backed his former Super Eagles teammate Seyi Olofinjana, who questioned the tactical direction of the national team under head coach Eric Chelle.
Speaking in an interview on Brila.net, Oparaku echoed Olofinjana’s concerns, pointing out what he sees as a lack of structure and planning around the team and coaching decisions.
Olofinjana is currently the Head African Scout at Chelsea and a former Nigerian midfielder, told Vanguard:
“When you watch the Super Eagles these days, you see a team without a discernible pattern. It shouldn’t be so. We should be able to say, ‘This is their style, this is their philosophy.’ But right now, there’s no clear identity.”
Oparaku backed the statement, expressing his frustration with the direction of the team.
“We’ve seen the first, second, and third matches. As we kept watching, it became clear that those who brought Chelle didn’t consider where he was coming from.
“Nigeria is too big in football to be handled this way; we’re not a small country. Those running the game are doing it for money, not for football. Where will they carry this money to?”
He also referenced Olofinjana’s technical credibility.
“Olofinjana doesn’t speak often, but when he does, you listen. I haven’t seen improvement. You asked for time, but even the players have depreciated in form. He’s a Chelsea scout and knows the game tactically. You have to pay attention to what he says.”
Mobi was part of Nigeria’s golden generation that won the country’s first and only Olympic gold medal in football at Atlanta 1996.
He also represented the Super Eagles at the 1998 FIFA World Cup and had a stint with Belgian side Anderlecht during his club career.
