Poor funding affecting Nigerian clubs in continental competitions – Chukwu

Technical Adviser of Rangers International FC, Christian Chukwu has pointed out an area in which Nigerian football clubs are trailing their counterparts in other nations.

The former Nigeria coach says poor funding of football activities in the country is having adverse effects on player performance.

Enugu Rangers lost back-to-back against Etoile du Sahel of Tunisia in the CAF ConfederationCup, first away and then at home.

Chukwu explains why North African club will always have an edge when they play in continental competitions.

“When the Tunisian club was coming to Nigeria, they came through a chartered flight with all machinery in place,” he said as cited by Football Live Ng.

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“Any time Nigerian teams want to travel they struggle to even carry the complete players registered for the competition in commercial flights.

“Again, Nigerian talented players are always moving to North Africa, Asia, North America and European leagues.

“If Nigerian players were well paid, they will remain here. Even foreign players will be attracted to come and play in Nigeria.

“In the 1980s when I was playing, we didn’t have issues of several of the players moving around, which affects the build up of a team.

“You cannot find that happening now because making money is the main thing on the minds of these players.”

The Flying Antelope, Nigeria’s only representatives at the CAF Confederation Cup, will play against Burkina Faso’s Salitas FC in a group game on Sunday.

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