The head coach of the Super Eagles recently released his 40-man provisional squad list ahead of the 2023 AFCON tournament
Super Eagles legend, Sunday Oliseh, responded to Odion Ighalo’s call for home-based players in the Super Eagles squad, Soccernet.ng reports.
The provisional list for the upcoming 2023 AFCON released by the Super Eagles featured only three home-based players—Ojo Oluwasegun (Enyimba FC), Christian Nwoke (Sporting Lagos FC), and Obasogie Amas (Bendel Insurance).
This selection heavily favoured foreign-based players, drawing criticism from Ighalo, who highlighted the Nigeria Football Federation's (NFF) oversight towards the local football league.
Expressing his stance, the Al Wehda forward criticized the NFF's decision, stressing the importance of including home-based players to uplift the Nigeria Premier Football League.
“I don’t think it’s right not to invite home-based players because it is a provisional, 40-man list. We should have five to seven home-based players to encourage them. We know they might not make the final list for the tournament, but at least five or seven should be on the list to encourage the players and the league so they can work harder and believe they can make the team in the future,” Ighalo conveyed via Oma Sports, earlier reported by Soccernet.ng.
This debate has sparked varied reactions within the Nigerian football community, igniting discussions among football enthusiasts regarding the squad's list.
In contrast, former Ajax star Oliseh acknowledged the shift in times, comparing the current squad to the 90s and 2000s teams that boasted international superstars and dominated global football.
He criticized the absence of home-based players, expressing concern that neglecting local talent could diminish the growth of grassroots football.
“If we had superstars like in the 90's and early 2000's playing at the very top world clubsides, champions league etc., one could understand the absence of home-based in a 40-man call-up. Haba, they just want to disregard everything that is home-based in favour of football business! Time we acted!” he shared on his X (formerly Twitter) page.
If we had superstars like in the 90's and early 2000's playing at D very top world clubsides,champions league etc one could understand d absence of homebased in a 40 man call-up. Haba,dem just want kill everything wey be homebased in favour of football business! Time we acted!! https://t.co/wT8cmSFzug
— Sunday Oliseh (@SundayOOliseh) December 21, 2023
The Super Eagles squad, including three home-based players, will camp in Saudi Arabia ahead of the 2023 AFCON tournament scheduled for January.
Sunday just talked for talking sake. how many home based players did he bring to the squad when he was the coach? he’s talking about super stars of yesterday, super stars doesn’t win tournaments but disciplined players , I wonder if he knows what that means since he’s a rouge as a player and a coach. He supposed to be the coach of that team now but his ego won’t let him,serving your fatherland supposed to be priceless, but no, everything is about money money money,
Olise should serve his father land at no cost, the same way your minister of sport is serving his father land at no cost or the same way that you would have?
Abby, when you close your rotten vocal cavity, no one will know how terrible it is. So keep it shut!
There is too much talk about home-based and foreign based players . It’s doesn’t matter who they are but only the best legs should be called . It’s easy to be in the outside and start saying this that and the other should be included but it’s the coaches name that is in the block and not these so called experts . After all what happened to CHAN – let them go and win it . Is it not for home based players . You can’t pick everyone . You pick according to the system and style you want to play . Not to ex players style or Y experts formation. The coach has a mandate and at the end of it he shall look at his report card and determine if he continues or not . These are the 40 to become 27 – so out of that number he will only take 3 goalkeepers . The rest he knows who he will take and who not –
Talking about home base Emmanuel amunike which club is he playing when his goals gave us afcon trophy which club is Sunday mbah was playing when his goal destroyed coat de ivory in semi final and his goal also gave us the trophy at de final of de competition when Stephen keshi was there head coach
It’s really unfortunate that we lack vision and direction in our football establishment in Nigeria. We cannot have sustainable progress in international football, if we don’t develop and promote our national leagues where players are scouted from. it’s obvious we don’t have a football philosophy or ideology as a country, that’s why we depend on finished products from foreign leagues. We are only good at importing products whether fake or genuine, as long as it’s not made in Nigeria, and that’s the wrong mentality. Even if we have to fail to succeed, we must make up our minds to use more home based players still hungry for success, than import players that don’t have the zeal or character to grind out results ✌️
the last player that won us the AFCON (Sunday Mbah) was a home based player.
Well if the NFF have decided to bring in Sunday Olise back again it’s good but he is not going to deliver because he is too sentimental and have a very big ego remember what happened to him and Vincent Enyama he feels big outside scoring that goal against Spain in 1994 I didn’t see more of him he is an average player who is over hipped but let’s wait and how is going to be this time around
The coach should be allowed to choose his team. There are other factors that influence the development of the local league. Players in our local league play continental football. This gives them opportunity to be discovered. The NFF should continue to improve playing conditions and over-all organizations of the league. We can camp and train the leagues best and organize matches with foreign teams. Afterward, we can make comparisons.
I put this on the Coach and the mandates negotiated in his contract. why is there no emphasis on international experience for up and comers? why do they have to be *stars* for consideration? That is a huge issue.
We don’t need a home based players at this stage in time to be successful,mind you the likes of Sunday Mba did help us win 2013 afcon
Our local league has continued to go downwards instead of upwards(progressing) just like most sectors in the Country. And this is also affecting other Sports. What is the philosophy of the Ministry of Sport as regards youth/Sport development in the Country. Teams from our local league are been kicked out of every CAF tournament. What of the CHAN? Yet you want a coach to pick his Team from these set of players. We use to be among the best countries in the world in youth and developmental football. What happened to our unders 17,20,the dream Team(Olympic Eagles)? It is so sad. Please leave Peseiro alone and fix the system before we are extincted.
I thought that inviting of home base goalkeeper is because people are complaining about goalkeeping department. And the coach doesn’t not any goalkeeper that invited to meet up to his favorite choice among them. If not he have options of inviting five goalkeeper out the country. But he know that it is possible for them to get the shirt instead of his favorite (Francis uzoho)