Ojelade Oluwatobiloba, Welfare and Social Director of the Nationwide Institute for Sports activities (Superior Teaching Class of 2025), has described the Federal Authorities’s success of its housing pledge to the Tremendous Eagles squad from the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations as a big step towards rebuilding belief between Nigerian athletes and authorities.
Oluwatobiloba, who at the moment works as a tactical analyst with Prolific Stars FC in Lagos State and is the proprietor of Expertise Spotter Administration, a soccer expertise scouting company, shared his views in an interview with Sports247 because the Tremendous Eagles put together for the 2025 AFCON.
Reacting to the information of the housing rewards, he mentioned the gesture sends a powerful message to gamers that their sacrifices are genuinely recognised.
“Listening to that the Federal Authorities really fulfilled its housing pledge is an enormous constructive,” Oluwatobiloba said. “In Nigeria, guarantees to athletes are sometimes delayed or forgotten, so supply builds belief.
It tells the gamers that their sacrifices are valued, not simply praised with phrases. That type of follow-through strengthens perception within the system and exhibits progress in how footballers are handled.”
He added that failure to honour the pledge would have had delicate however damaging penalties on workforce morale.
“If the advantages had fallen by, it might probably have damage morale, possibly not brazenly, however internally,” he defined. “Gamers would nonetheless combat for the badge, however disappointment creates distraction and cynicism. It reinforces the thought of ‘play your coronary heart out, however don’t anticipate appreciation,’ which might quietly have an effect on motivation and unity.”
On the problem of incentives, the NIS welfare director supported the thought of performance-based bonuses however warned towards counting on them solely. In keeping with him, a balanced strategy is more practical.
“Linking bonuses to milestones is truthful, soccer is performance-driven,” Oluwatobiloba mentioned. “Nonetheless, it shouldn’t be solely performance-based. A hybrid mannequin works finest: upfront ensures like look charges, welfare, and insurance coverage, mixed with efficiency bonuses for progressing by rounds or profitable medals. That method, gamers really feel revered first, then rewarded for excellence.”
Trying past monetary rewards, Oluwatobiloba outlined a number of areas the place authorities intervention may have a extra lasting affect on Nigerian soccer.
“Correct participant welfare and insurance coverage, steady funding for youth academies, higher home league infrastructure, clear assist for teaching growth, and stronger sports activities science and medical assist are vital,” he famous. “These affect soccer extra sustainably than one-off rewards.”
He additionally confused the significance of constant authorities coverage following Nigeria’s failure to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, urging stakeholders to not make selections based mostly on short-term feelings.
“Consistency is essential, particularly after lacking the 2026 World Cup,” Oluwatobiloba mentioned. “One event success or failure shouldn’t reset all the plan. Lengthy-term soccer development depends upon regular insurance policies, not emotional reactions to outcomes. International locations that succeed construct programs, not moments, Morocco is a transparent instance of this strategy.”
As Nigeria seems forward to AFCON 2025 and past, Oluwatobiloba believes sustained planning, accountability, and real funding in constructions can be key to restoring the Tremendous Eagles to constant continental and world relevance.
