Gernot Rohr has assembled one of the youngest teams on the continent, but Nigeria’s only league title-winning coach in Europe is not impressed with the quality in the side
Albanian league-winning manager Ndubuisi Egbo has bemoaned the dearth of top-quality players in the Super Eagles, saying Nigeria used to fare better in that regard in the not-too-distant past.
Egbo, a former Super Eagles goalkeeper, made history at the weekend when he became the first Nigerian manager to win a league title in Europe.
The 46-year-old manager led Albania side KF Tirana to their first championship crown in more than a decade and the club’s 25th league title overall.
During his active days, Egbo managed just 12 games for Nigeria with the likes of Peter Rufai and Ike Shorunmu, keeping the number one gloves away from him.
The Super Eagles at the time also boasted some of the continent’s most excellent outfield stars with three CAF Africa Player of the Year award winners Nwankwo Kanu, Rashidi Yekini, and Victor Ikpeba in that squad.
But despite the present Super Eagles squad comprising top talents in Samuel Chukwueze, Victor Osimhen, and Wilfred Ndidi, Egbo is worried that there is not enough quality in Rohr’s team.
“It is unfortunate; because during my time in the national team, it was difficult to mention the best player because we had many quality players,” Egbo said in quotes carried by the Nation Online.
“We had Kanu Nwankwo, Finidi George, Celestine Babayaro, Tijani Babangida, and Victor Ikpeba and so on, but today, where should I start from?
“Back then, when you mentioned Nigeria, the opponents were like already two goals down mentally because of the quality players in the team, and they came into the game already timid.
“Football has improved now, and we have many African players playing in Europe; every team has experienced players now, and it is now more difficult for bigger teams to run over smaller teams.”
Egbo could be the first Nigerian manager in the UEFA Champions League when he leads Tirana to Europe’s premier club competition next season.