Former Nigerian striker Henry Makinwa has criticized Super Eagles players for taking their phones onto the pitch during training and matches. His comments come in response to a Facebook post by David Doherty, a former NFF presidential aspirant based in the UK, who expressed frustration with the tardiness of players Kelechi Iheanacho and Maduka Okoye.
Makinwa, who had a notable career with Iwuanyanwu Nationale and Concord in the 90s before playing in Europe and Asia, described the practice as “poor” and “shameful.” He was particularly dismayed by the players’ behavior, which he believes reflects a lack of discipline and professionalism.
Doherty’s post highlighted issues with both Iheanacho and Okoye’s punctuality. He pointed out that both players were frequently late to the Super Eagles camp, which he argues contributes to poor team performance, such as the recent loss to Benin Republic. Doherty emphasized the importance of adhering to a strict code of conduct and criticized the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) for not addressing these issues effectively.
According to Doherty, Iheanacho and Okoye’s repeated lateness undermines the team’s preparation and discipline, contrasting sharply with the professionalism seen in European and other African football systems. He stressed that for Nigerian football to improve, there must be a greater emphasis on punctuality and adherence to a code of conduct, urging the NFF to enforce stricter regulations.
The criticism reflects growing concern about the professionalism and discipline within the Super Eagles camp and underscores the need for reform to align with international standards.
