When the name Gafar Mohammed is mentioned, many Nigerian football fans remember a solid professional career that spanned both local and international stages. A former Nigeria U20 player who also had brief involvement with the Super Eagles, Mohammed shared the pitch with household names like Julius Aghahowa, Pius Ikedia, and Ifeanyi Udeze.
At club level, he featured for giants such as Shooting Stars of Ibadan, Insurance of Benin, and Eagles Cement of Port Harcourt before embarking on stints abroad in Belgium, Spain, and India. After hanging up his boots, he pursued coaching, earning UEFA and CAF certifications, and managed in the Nigeria National League (NNL) with teams like Smart City FC and First Bank.
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Now on the sidelines but still very much connected to the game, Coach Mohammed recently shared his candid views on Nigeria’s disastrous performance at the ongoing African Nations Championship (CHAN), where the Super Eagles B have suffered back-to-back defeats to Senegal and Sudan.
On the Defeat to Senegal and Sudan
“I was disappointed with the goal we conceded,” he said. “With nine players drawn from a single NPFL club in the squad, I expected better coordination and team chemistry. Sadly, the quality did not reflect that.”
On the humiliating 4–0 loss to Sudan, Mohamed stressed that the result was a reflection of Nigeria’s declining domestic football standard.
“The Sudanese league has improved. Some Nigerian players now move to Sudan to play professionally, which shows how competitive it has become,” he explained.
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On Home-Based Players and Local Coaches
Mohammed did not hide his disappointment in the performance of the NPFL players.
“This competition is meant to showcase the strength of our league. Other African countries rely on their local players to shine, and Nigeria should be no different. Unfortunately, our boys did not do enough to convince us that they can compete at this level,” he noted.
The former First Bank coach also questioned the technical setup of the team.
“Traditionally, CHAN is handled by home-based coaches who understand the NPFL inside out. I believe Fidelis Ilechukwu and Daniel Ogunmodede should have led the team with full authority while Coach Eric Chelle acted as an advisor. Instead, he took direct charge, and that decision did not help the team,” he argued.
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Message to the NFF
Mohammed advised the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to learn lessons from the poor campaign.
“Going forward, the NFF must give local coaches full trust and freedom to build their squads. This tournament is a mirror of our league. If we cannot perform here, it means our league is not where it should be,” he said.
On His Own Career
After his last spell with First Bank FC, Mohammed remains available for new challenges.
“My CV is out there. I am open and ready to take on another coaching job. Hopefully, the right opportunity comes soon,” he concluded.
