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“Foreign Players Aren’t the Solution” — Mahbubat Salaudeen Challenges Olanrewaju’s Take After Rivers United’s CAF Exit
Writer and poet Mahbubat Salaudeen has challenged Rivers United assistant coach Yemi Olanrewaju’s argument that Nigerian football needs more foreign players to compete effectively at the continental and international levels.
Olanrewaju, speaking after Rivers United’s CAF Champions League elimination by FC San Pedro, had argued that foreign players are essential to the development of a competitive league.
“No league will survive without foreigners. The English Premier League didn’t do well until the Cantonás and the Thierry Henrys started coming in.”
However, Salaudeen believes bringing in foreign players is not the immediate solution to the challenges facing Nigerian football.
Sports247 reports, according to the writer, while foreign recruitment could potentially benefit the Nigerian Premier Football League (NPFL) in the long term, the priority should currently be on exposing domestic clubs and players to a higher level of competition.
“Bringing in foreign players isn’t the solution Nigerian football needs. It may work, but that will be in the long term when the clubs have the money or are willing to spend,” Salaudeen argued.
She instead called for NPFL clubs to regularly play tougher opponents in international friendly matches, stressing that such exposure would help Nigerian players and teams become better prepared for continental competition.
Salaudeen pointed to the recent experience of Nigeria’s women’s U20 national team as an example of the importance of competing against technically superior opposition.
“The Nigeria women U20 national team faced academies/players they were technically better than and somehow we’re disappointed they lost two of their games in the group stage?” she questioned.
For Salaudeen, the problem goes beyond results. She believes Nigerian teams need to consistently test themselves against opponents who operate at a higher technical and tactical level before entering major international competitions.
“They will lose to England too because those girls are not technically prepared for the level of competition needed to excel against such opponents,” she added.
Her comments have reignited the debate over the best pathway for improving Nigerian football, with questions surrounding player development, competitive exposure, club investment and the role of foreign players in the NPFL.
While Olanrewaju sees quality foreign imports as part of the evolution of successful leagues, Salaudeen’s argument places greater emphasis on improving the competitive environment around Nigerian clubs and ensuring domestic players are regularly exposed to stronger opposition.
The Plateau State government says 100 patients will benefit from free cataract surgeries as part of activities to commemorate the 2026 World Sight Day.
Nicholas Ba’amlong, Commissioner for Health, disclosed this on Monday in Jos while commemorating the 2026 World Sight Day, with the theme “Love Your Eyes.”
Mr Ba’amlong said the initiative was being implemented in collaboration with Sightsavers at the Federal Medical Centre, Wase, in Wase Local Government Area.
He stressed the importance of early detection and treatment of eye conditions, noting that residents would receive free checks and screening.
The commissioner said eye health is not an isolated health issue but closely connected to education, employment, productivity, independence, social participation and quality of life.
He said many eye conditions could be prevented, treated or managed when people have timely access to appropriate services.
Mr Ba’amlong said the Plateau government remained committed to strengthening eye health services and making eye care increasingly accessible to residents.
“We will continue to support the integration of eye health into the wider health system, strengthen treatment pathways, promote community awareness and encourage early detection and treatment of eye conditions,” he said.
Mr Ba’amlong added that government would also focus on people living in underserved and hard-to-reach communities.
“Our goal must be an eye health system where every person, regardless of age, gender, location or economic circumstances, has the opportunity to receive appropriate eye care,” he said.
He called for stronger collaboration among government, non-governmental organisations, health professionals, traditional and religious leaders, community organisations and other stakeholders to improve eye-health services.
Mr Ba’amlong urged residents to make eye health a personal and family priority by getting regular eye checks and seeking professional care whenever they notice changes in their vision.
The commissioner urged community leaders, teachers and religious leaders to promote accurate information on eye health and discourage harmful practices that could endanger people’s sight.
“Most importantly, let us not wait until a vision problem becomes severe before seeking help,” he said.
Mr Ba’amlong commended eye-health professionals and other healthcare workers for their dedication, urging them to continue providing compassionate and quality services.
World Sight Day is marked globally on October 8 to raise awareness about preventable causes of vision impairment and blindness and promote access to eye-care services.
(NAN)
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