Remo Stars head coach Daniel Ogunmodede has issued a realistic assessment of Nigerian football’s place on the global stage, saying it may take between five to ten years for Nigerian clubs to reach the level required to compete at major international tournaments such as the FIFA Club World Cup.
Speaking after guiding Remo Stars to their first-ever Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) title, Ogunmodede praised his players’ efforts but stressed that significant structural and developmental reforms are necessary if Nigerian clubs are to thrive internationally.
“Winning the league is a step in the right direction, but we are still far behind the elite clubs,” he said. “If we want to get to the level of the Club World Cup, it will take five to ten years of consistent planning and execution.”
He cited key areas requiring improvement, including youth development, infrastructure, coaching education, and management professionalism. “We need to go back to the drawing board. The gap in fitness, tactics, and match exposure is wide. It’s not impossible, but we must be deliberate,” Ogunmodede added.
As NPFL champions, Remo Stars will represent Nigeria in the CAF Champions League next season. The club’s rapid rise has been one of the most talked-about stories in Nigerian football, but Ogunmodede insists that more systemic changes are needed beyond domestic success. “It’s not about one club. For Nigerian football to grow, all clubs must invest in structures that develop talent sustainably,” he said.
He also called on the League Management Company (LMC) and the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to prioritize long-term reforms. “If we want to compete with the likes of Al Ahly, Wydad, or even clubs from Asia and South America, we must modernize.”
The FIFA Club World Cup expands in 2025, and no Nigerian team has qualified to date.
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