Super Eagles defender Kenneth Omeruo has ruled out the possibility of returning to play in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL), revealing instead his ambition to scout and promote homegrown talent from the league, Soccernet.football reports.
Speaking during a live X Space session, hosted alongside Wilfred Ndidi, Asisat Oshoala, and several prominent Nigerian journalists, Omeruo candidly shared his reasons for his decision.
The former Chelsea center-back, who had a spell at Sunshine Stars before moving to Europe, cited the absence of a top-tier football club in Abuja, his hometown, as a major factor.
“I don’t think I will come back to play in the NPFL,” Omeruo said. “I grew up in Abuja, and they don’t have a club playing in the top flight. And right now, I can’t go back to Akure. I don’t see myself going back to the Nigerian league to play, but I’m someone who likes scouting good players.”
Omeruo highlighted a pivotal moment that shaped his interest in scouting, recalling when the NPFL introduced an app for streaming league matches.
“There was a time when the league had an app where we could stream games from everywhere,” he said. “Back then, I shared it (the link) with my agent and other people because I knew the quality we had in that league.”
Looking ahead to life after his playing career, Omeruo expressed a vision for transforming the NPFL into a platform that showcases and exports Nigerian talent on a larger scale.
“After football, what I would like to do is to manage the Nigerian league,” he revealed. “I feel like we should be selling players like the Brazilians and not just for a meager fee. I think the league has the quality to sell players for as much as $1 million because of the talent we have in the country.”
To achieve this, Omeruo stressed the importance of enhancing the league’s visibility. “The league organizers have to try and make the league visible on TV. By so doing, it will create more awareness,” he added.
While Omeruo remains firm in his decision, the presence of high-profile players like Ahmed Musa and Brown Ideye in the NPFL continues to inspire hope for a revitalised league.