The captain of the U20 side has come
under criticism for his decision to leave the
camp of the U23 squad without disclosing
to officials but could there be more to it?
The decision of Musa Muhammed to leave
the camp of the Nigeria U23s in Abuja
without informing officials is an issue that
has come under intense scrutiny in the last
two days.
It was reported on Wednesday that the 18-
years-old player had left camp to travel to
Europe in order to sign a contract with a yet
to be known club.
While the Nigeria Football Federation has
said it would punish the Flying Eagles
captain and everyone involved in his
decision to leave camp, could there be more
to it than meets the eye?
Professor Patrick Omo-Osagie, a sports
management professional, teacher and Goal
Nigeria columnist delved into the issue to try
and explain the likely reasons for
Muhammed's action.
"Six months is definitely not enough time
for this new NFF to build a culture of trust
with players and coaches, so I am not
surprised that a player like Musa, with all his
national responsibilities, will abscond from a
national assignment," Omo-Osagie told Goal.
"When you don't trust the people around
you to make the best decision for your
future, you put that decision in your own
hands and that is what Musa has done.
"Will this turn out to be the best decision for
him, time will tell. But the fact that this was a
recent call up to the U23 team makes it also
very interesting. He probably had this trip
scheduled before now and the sudden call
up was least expected."
A veritable rising star in the right-back
position, Muhammed had just captained the
Nigeria U20 team to lift the African Youth
Championship title in Dakar, Senegal last
month where he finished top scorer with
four goals.
He was also captain of the Golden Eaglets
when they won the Fifa U17 World Cup in
2013.
Omo-Osagie also said that it is crucial how
the NFF handles this issue in order not to
scare young players away from playing for
the country.
"Many see player welfare as paying good
money only; player welfare must also include
knowing the individual and what they want
out of life.
"How Musa, a World Cup team captain, will
fly out of this country without informing
anyone in the NFF should tell us one thing;
players are frightened by the NFF.
"And with the NFF saying openly that Musa
will be disciplined again shows exactly why
the next player to get this chance will not
communicate with the NFF," he said.
Musa has been named in Nigeria's
provisional 35-man squad for the Fifa U20
World Cup that will start at the end of May.
Would he hold on to his place as influential
captain of the Flying Eagles? Time will tell.
under criticism for his decision to leave the
camp of the U23 squad without disclosing
to officials but could there be more to it?
The decision of Musa Muhammed to leave
the camp of the Nigeria U23s in Abuja
without informing officials is an issue that
has come under intense scrutiny in the last
two days.
It was reported on Wednesday that the 18-
years-old player had left camp to travel to
Europe in order to sign a contract with a yet
to be known club.
While the Nigeria Football Federation has
said it would punish the Flying Eagles
captain and everyone involved in his
decision to leave camp, could there be more
to it than meets the eye?
Professor Patrick Omo-Osagie, a sports
management professional, teacher and Goal
Nigeria columnist delved into the issue to try
and explain the likely reasons for
Muhammed's action.
"Six months is definitely not enough time
for this new NFF to build a culture of trust
with players and coaches, so I am not
surprised that a player like Musa, with all his
national responsibilities, will abscond from a
national assignment," Omo-Osagie told Goal.
"When you don't trust the people around
you to make the best decision for your
future, you put that decision in your own
hands and that is what Musa has done.
"Will this turn out to be the best decision for
him, time will tell. But the fact that this was a
recent call up to the U23 team makes it also
very interesting. He probably had this trip
scheduled before now and the sudden call
up was least expected."
A veritable rising star in the right-back
position, Muhammed had just captained the
Nigeria U20 team to lift the African Youth
Championship title in Dakar, Senegal last
month where he finished top scorer with
four goals.
He was also captain of the Golden Eaglets
when they won the Fifa U17 World Cup in
2013.
Omo-Osagie also said that it is crucial how
the NFF handles this issue in order not to
scare young players away from playing for
the country.
"Many see player welfare as paying good
money only; player welfare must also include
knowing the individual and what they want
out of life.
"How Musa, a World Cup team captain, will
fly out of this country without informing
anyone in the NFF should tell us one thing;
players are frightened by the NFF.
"And with the NFF saying openly that Musa
will be disciplined again shows exactly why
the next player to get this chance will not
communicate with the NFF," he said.
Musa has been named in Nigeria's
provisional 35-man squad for the Fifa U20
World Cup that will start at the end of May.
Would he hold on to his place as influential
captain of the Flying Eagles? Time will tell.