George Finidi Laments Absence Of Nigerian Stars In Top European Clubs

The Nigerian legend was the pick of the country’s golden generation in the nineties, but he is saddened that top European clubs no longer parade Super Eagles stars

Former Real Betis winger George Finidi has lamented the absence of Nigerian stars in some of the biggest clubs in the world, days after Bayern Munich emerged champions of Europe’s premier club competition. 

Die Roten on Sunday lifted the 2020 UEFA Champions League, beating PSG 1-0 at the Estadio da Luz.

No club parading a Super Eagles star made it to the last-eight stage of the competition, and the country’s sole consolation was witnessing Dutch-Nigerian youngster Joshua Zirkzee claiming a winners medal with the German champions.

Away from the Champions League, a close look at all the champions of Europe’s top five leagues this season, shows no Nigerian in their playing ranks.

It’s a far cry from when the likes of Nwankwo Kanu, Emmanuel Amuneke, Austin Okocha, Sunday Oliseh, and Finidi played for and won titles with Arsenal, Barcelona, PSG, Borussia Dortmund, and Ajax, respectively.

Finidi is not happy with the current situation, and the former Sharks star insists that things must change for the Super Eagles to reap the rewards.

“Our players are playing in lower divisions, you don’t expect them to give what they don’t have,” the New Telegraph quotes the former Nigeria number seven. 

“Few of our players are playing in the top leagues in Europe, even at that which of the clubs, most of them are average clubs.

“In our days, you can see where most of us were playing for, which resulted in a great performance for the national team.”

No Super Eagles player has won the UEFA Champions League since Mikel Obi lifted the trophy with Chelsea in 2012.