AFCON 2013 winner explains why NPFL players struggle in Super Eagles squad

Former Chelsea and Super Eagles defender Kenneth Omeruo has questioned the mentality of home-based players invited to the national team squad, observing that they do not compete. 

The 32-year-old veteran won the AFCON partnering with Godfrey Obaobuna—who was a home-based player at the time, playing for Sunshine Stars—in defence. The triumphant squad from 2013 had a healthy representation from the NFPL, with a player from the division, Sunday Mba, scoring the winning goal in the quarter-final (vs Cote d'Ivoire) and final (vs Zambia).

Since 2013, representation from NPFL has waned in the senior team, with a faction of the league's followers decrying squad lists at international break intervals in which domestic players have been snubbed. 

With the AFCON in Morocco next month approaching, the writing on the wall is clear: from what has been observed in the World Cup qualifiers, there are no outfield slots on the squad list for NPFL players. 

Omeruo argued that the limited participation of NPFL players in the Super Eagles is down to their attitude. He claimed that the domestic players saw the Super Eagles call-up as a means to an end, instead of fighting for a place in the team. 

“Most of the players who come to the national team from the local leagues now, they just come to complete the team, to train. They don’t compete,” he said, per Brila.

“You have to come into the national team with the confidence that you want to be selected in games, not just coming to say, ‘Okay, I just came to complete the team, get the experience, and move on.’

“A few even went to the Unity Cup in London, and after that tournament, they went on to sign for clubs overseas,” he added.

Meanwhile, Eric Chelle was at the helm earlier this year when the home-based Eagles were embarrassed out of the CHAN group stages. Despite the depth of knowledge he must have on those players following the tournament, he has yet to invite any outfield player from the squad to join the main team.