‘The Dream is to Leave,’ Ifeanyi Ogba explains why Nigerian football must change

*22-year-old Nigerian forward Ifeanyi Ogba offers a candid assessment of realities facing players in the domestic league, emphasising a stronger domestic league with ‘private investment’ will reshape Nigerian football as a whole

Esosa Osa

In an interview with CrossFire NG, 22-year-old Nigerian forward Ifeanyi Ogba offered a candid assessment of the realities facing players in the domestic league and why so many are compelled to seek opportunities abroad.

For many young footballers in Nigeria, the local league is not the destination; it is a stepping stone.

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Ogba is well aware of this reality.

At just 22, the attacker has played for Lobi Stars, Akwa United, Enugu Rangers, Kwara United and Bayelsa United in the Nigerian Premier Football League before securing a move abroad.

Now with Tunisian side JS Kairouan, he speaks with the clarity of someone who has seen both sides of the divide and believes the gap is impossible to ignore.

He said: “The dream of every NPFL player is to leave Nigeria

“That is what drives us to keep going.”

It is not just ambition pushing players out, but conditions.

For Ogba, the difference between football at home and abroad became undeniable the moment he experienced it firsthand.

“I can confidently say my experience here is far better,” he explained.

The reasons are not abstract. They are visible in the everyday details that shape a footballer’s growth: pitches, welfare, structure, and style of play.

Ogba also stated: “The pitches are not good enough, and player welfare could be better.

“Salaries need to improve, and injuries should be treated more professionally.”

There is also a deeper footballing concern.

Ogba believes the domestic game itself must evolve.

The player noted: “Even our style of play needs to change because many clubs are too physical.

“We need more tactical and free-flowing football.”

For him, development is inseparable from the environment.

Without the right conditions, talent alone is not enough.

“Every player needs the right conditions to develop, and I am glad I was able to make the move,” said he.

While some have argued that Nigerian players move abroad too early, Ogba sees the situation differently.

In fact, he believes the opposite is true.

The player said: “In my opinion, they are not leaving early enough.

“They need to move sooner.”

His reasoning is simple: until the league improves structurally, players will continue to look elsewhere for growth.

That improvement, he insists, will not happen without serious financial backing and proper ownership structures.

The conversation around private investment in Nigerian football has grown louder in recent years, and Ogba is firmly in support of it, with the right safeguards.

“As long as the government properly scrutinises investors to ensure they have the resources to sustain the clubs in the long term, I fully support private investment,” he said.

He believes the entry of wealthy, ambitious owners could trigger a transformation across the league.

Ogba further observed: “Billionaires are ambitious, and if they bring that mindset into NPFL clubs, there will be a positive ripple effect.”

That ripple effect, in his view, would be immediate and far-reaching: better salaries, improved stadiums, quality training facilities, and professional medical care.

“Many clubs currently train only in their stadiums, which is not ideal, and most do not even have gyms,” he noted.

Beyond infrastructure, Ogba sees the potential for a stronger football ecosystem, including the growth of academies and even increased attention to the women’s game. “Hopefully, these improvements will also extend to women’s football, which equally needs private investment.”

Ultimately, the impact would not stop at club level.

Ogba believes a stronger domestic league would reshape Nigerian football as a whole.

He restated: “All of this would lead to more home-based players in the Super Eagles squad.

“And increase our chances in competitions like the CAF Champions League, CAF Confederation Cup, AFCON, and even the World Cup.”

For now, players like Ogba will continue to chase their dreams abroad.

But his message to those with the power to change the game at home is clear.

The young player noted: “There are many talented players in Nigeria.

“If business leaders invest, build proper structures, and take care of these players, they will reap the rewards.”

Until then, the dream remains the same, and for many, it still begins with leaving.

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